Workplace Observation Paper

Restaurants and other eateries are ubiquitous in American society. However, the workplace routines and behaviors of individuals who perform the critical functions of preparing, serving, and cleaning up meals are often invisible to diners. This divide is particularly palpable in collegiate, corporate, or other fast paced settings where diners enter with the expectation of expediency and convenience. For my ethnography, I chose to observe and illuminate the interactions between food service workers at a deli-like restaurant located in the psychology building on the campus of Boston University. I paid particular attention to discerning the division of labor between workers and changes in their workplace behaviors given the presence or absence

Watching her attitude made it clear as to why the workers took advantage of her absence to use electronics and take longer breaks. The first thing she said once she entered the work place was, “Why don’t I see any electronics on the table. You guys are not children anymore. Wake up and smell the coffee. You know you are expected to put away all electronics once you enter the café.” Her repercussions and constant demanding of certain rules caused the workers to sigh. The tone in which Traci spoke to the workers was loud and it made it clear that the workers were embarrassed of her rowdy voice because every time she would yell, the workers faces would turn red. They would look away trying to avoid the stares that the customers would give them. I observed that when the worker Julia was cleaning the floors, Traci would quietly and secretly check to see if she was doing her job correctly and not missing any stains. When it came to watching the men perform their assigned tasks, Traci checked to see that the men were focused on their jobs and did not use any electronics even if no customer was

When asked about the workers breaking workplace rules, Brian demonstrated a strong understanding of the operations of The Market, but his attitude and appraisal of the work were explicitly less solemn than the rules and regulations posted throughout the establishment. On the night of our interview, he noted that it was a “slow night” and that “the warmers are pretty stocked up.” He also casually asserts that “I don’t really have anything to do, so I’m taking it easy…and chillin’ with everyone at the table, and watching Idol… I know that if Traci was here this wouldn’t be happening, but I’m taking advantage of the fact that she’s gone.” His sentiments clearly highlight the intentionally subversive actions that the employees take to circumvent the rules and regulations enforced by the supervisor. Interestingly, Brian does not seem to associate the student managers with rule enforcement. It seems as if they play a very cursory role in worker and supervisor relations in the Market.

Ethical Issues:

It is possible that the act of observing the workers at The Market may have changed their behaviors and the way they interacted with one another. While observing the workers, I took notes on a notepad, which may have led to some workers thinking they were being evaluated. Over the course of the observation, the workers became accustomed to my presence