It certainly IS the duty of management to deal with these sorts of issues. Management failed, the server vented and the "friend" screwed the pooch. The manager ended up covering their arse and comes out on top.
In any case, far too many here are ignorant concerning what servers do and how "hard" they may work to ensure a decent level of customer service.
In a well run establishment, it would have been the manager who should have compensated the server for duties not germane to her job. If all Outbacks are run this poorly, I'd hesitate to ever "dine" there.
“If all Outbacks are run this poorly, I’d hesitate to ever “dine” there.”
It used to be said that it takes ten years to get good at any job. How long do people in this field stay in a job? And what kind of people do they hire?
Since moving here in 2012, I have been to the Outback three times. Each time was a frustrating mess. Bad food, horrible service. Never again.
But what do I expect? They pay their line cooks $10. It’s a wonder anyone survives eating there.