How to discuss on-going problems with co-workers.?

Question

I work in a restaurant with a mother/daughter team. The daughter is a cook and the mother is a waitress. I work with these two on a daily basis and things can get way over the top really quick. Everyone in the restaurant is like a big family and generally everyone treats each other well. The daughter is very dramatic and can literally talk for hours on end without a break, which can often take a toll on the timeliness of food getting out of the kitchen. The mother also has quite a flair for dramatics and she is down right rude and nasty to fellow employees for no reason at all. In general both are very hard workers and rarely miss a day of work. Both can be downright charming at times, which makes it difficult for my boss to discipline their bad behaviors. I understand his dilemma. If he gets after one or both, he risks losing two employees at once, and as I have stated they are generally hard workers. It's gotten to the point though, that their behaviors are interfering with my income and everyone at work is not the happy family we once were. How do I approach one or the other, as I am not willing to allow this for myself, anymore. I don't want to be nasty yet I want to be firm on this matter.

Answer 1

I would suggest only confronting issues that are objective and functional.  If you can be more specific about why you are not making as much money as you think you should, then that specific issue might be addressable.  For example, the food is late and cold so the customers get upset and you get less tips.  You might tell the boss that the food is taking too long and therefore your customers are not satisfied.  Let the boss explore the issue and determine if the reason is because the cooks are talking too much in the kitchen.  

You should be clear about what your job is, and what specific functional objective issue is causing a problem to you.

Answer 2

you shouldn't approach this, as it really isn't your place.  if it is affecting your income however, i would go to the boss as a group.  don't even think about having this conversation with your boss solo. remember,  there is strength in numbers, and this way you won't be seen as the "neighborhood snitch".  after you have your sit down with the boss, see what happens.  just remember that work does not necessarily have to be a happy family.  you are there to make money to put food on your table.  any more than that is a blessing.