New owner has serial affairs with restaurant staff members

DEAR ABBY: I have been employed at a fine dining restaurant for 30 years. I love my job.

New owners bought it eight years ago, and the restaurant was booming. Our owner had an affair with another employee, and her schedule and treatment became insane. She didn’t have to work as hard as the rest of us, treated everyone she worked with horribly and nothing was done about it. She and her family suddenly moved out of state a short while ago, and nothing was ever said about her again.

Recently, we found out that he’s having an affair with another co-worker, and the entire staff is discouraged and angry. Both of our bosses, husband Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips. and wife, seem OK with these affairs and act like nothing is wrong! Morale is at an all-time low, and the anger and frustration are at an alltime

high.

I’m trying to ride this out, but I’m very frustrated and just want to quit. My heart is heavy because I love my job and my customers. Do you have any suggestions? – CONFOUNDED IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR CONFOUNDED: The new proprietors appear to have “an arrangement,” which is why the wife is willing to look the other way while her husband carries on. If the new “girlfriend” is receiving the same favoritism in her work assignments that the last one enjoyed, you and the rest of the staff have a right to complain about the unequal treatment. It might be most effective if you do it as a group.

Change jobs if the atmosphere isn’t healthy for you, and some of your favorite customers may follow. That goes for every other person who works there. If enough of you quit, it may have a negative effect on the business.