Café customer’s incredible act after hearing staff complain about being understaffed during peak hour rush
- Regular customer dons apron to support café
- Owners ‘floored’ by her generosity
A regular customer performed an incredible act of generosity at her local café after overhearing employees comment on being short-staffed.
After she heard the staff complaining during breakfast last Wednesday at Miss Effie’s Kitchen in Noosaville on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, customer Janet returned just an hour later with an apron in hand ready to help the struggling staff.
The café was operating with just three staff – after one staff member called in sick and the other took time off – to look after a maximum of 35 dine-in customers and numerous takeaway orders.
Jumping into the kitchen without complaint, Janet carried out one of hospitality’s more despised jobs; washing dishes, plates and cutlery.
The café’s owners, Effie and Fiona, were shocked to see Janet return and said they ‘could have been blown over by a feather’ by her act of generosity.
A regular customer to a Noosaville café, Janet (pictured), helped the under-staffed business through a morning rush by cleaning dishes and cutlery
According to Fiona, Janet would not take no for an answer and insisted she help out after breakfast with her husband.
‘We told her it’s okay but she just said ‘I want to work, I’m happy to be here’,’ Fiona said.
‘The sheer generosity of that act, we (her and Effie) were floored.
‘She even stayed until 2:30pm even though we close at 2… She was an absolute superstar.’
Although not the most revered job in the kitchen, cleaning dishes and cutlery was exactly what was needed on the day.
‘Trying to cover the peak with just three staff, just one in the kitchen, was a lot,’ Fiona said.
‘If we had to be washing dishes as well, I don’t think I would have been standing by the end of it.’
Janet’s generosity also came free of charge, as she refused to take home any food or compensation at the end of the shift.
‘She’s a beautiful, beautiful lady and she was certain on not taking any compensation,’ Fiona said.
‘I will be discounting her coffee for as long as she comes here.’
Janet even returned at 7am the next morning ready to work again, but the café had a staff member return and were able to operate without her help.
Miss Effie’s Kitchen (pictured) opened at a ‘not ideal time’ in July of last year, but have successfully built a base of loyal locals who have mirrored Janet’s generosity
The café’s owners, Fiona (left) and Effie (right), were ‘floored’ by the act of generosity from customer Janet and praised the local community for continuing to support the small business
The business opened in July of last year, which Fiona admitted ‘wasn’t an ideal time to open, especially this type of business’.
Like many businesses in hospitality, Miss Effie’s Kitchen has struggled to find long-term staff after many international workers were forced out of Australia during Covid.
The café’s barista is Fiona’s son, who they were lucky to have on board while he’s on a gap year, while Effie’s sister puts her hand up to work about three days every week.
The issue has also been compounded across the industry by soaring operational costs, including ingredients, rent and utilities.
However, by focusing efforts on building a base of returning locals and workers at nearby businesses, Fiona and Effie have been able to thrive in the small community.
‘It’s just locals, we’re surrounded by offices… we’re not much of a tourist spot,’ Fiona said.
‘We love our customers and so we talk to them.
‘Her (Janet’s) generosity seems to be mirrored by a lot of our customers saying ‘this (Miss Effie’s Kitchen) is great’.
‘We opened the business to feed people, make them happy, and the support we’ve received in return is better than any money going into our bank account.’
Having no other way to thank her, the business posted an image of Janet dutifully polishing cutlery to a local Facebook group.
‘Thank you Janet… we are truly grateful and really appreciate all you did for us today,’ the post reads.
Numerous locals commented on the post, describing Janet’s act as ‘fabulous’, ‘lovely’ and ‘typical of many in our fantastic community’.
Source: Read Full Article
