You Down With OCD, Yeah You Know Me?

[FishinChef]

I was discussing this with a fellow exec chef the other day. How many of you or your employees suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? And is it a weakness or a strength in this field? I've inadvertently found that OCD can make for very effective kitchen employees. Several of my staff members have OCD to one extent or another (I would have to say myself as well). I put them in positions where it works to my kitchen's advantage. The meticulous patterns that each of them have are a huge asset to my operation running smoothly. And most of the time I can tell you exactly where they are and exactly what they are doing.

Any thoughts or am I the mental case?

[mark1]

LOL-can hardly wait for replies to this one! Who would have guessed that the incidence of OCD in resto kitchen staff is an order of magnitude higher than the national average.

[Blueicus]

I dunno, I'm no psychologist but there's "I think I have OCD/some mental quirk because I seem to match some of the pretty general sounding symptoms listed" and then there's "I think I have ants in my pants and I can only shake them off if I shift around in them every few minutes or they come back" sort of problem. I don't think the person who needs to shift around his pants every few minutes will that as productive a worker as a "normal" person.

Man, I'm such a wet blanket...

[mark1]

LOL-hope they're not fire ants! Where's good old DDT when you need it!

[Blueicus]

I don't think I'd like to be shot in the crotch with DDT, even if I do have OCD .

[cewall]

Our pastry chef, a bit of a nutcase, counts his keys ever hour on the hour. He also cleans his workstation exactly five times every half hour. I know it isn't really funny, but we sit back and laugh our a$$es off. He puts out amazing desserts, so what can we really say?

[SaraCooks]

I was just thinking that OCD would be a more useful trait in a pastry chef than in a line cook.

[BistroOwner1]

Any thoughts or am I the mental case?

You may be a mental case, but so are most of us in this business!

[lebelage]

Definitely not OCD if there is productivity.

The DSM definition requires that the compulsion which stems from the obsession be irrational and without benefit. More like hyperactive superstition.

If your obsessiveness produces positve results it isn't OCD.

[chefelle]

Maybe perfectionism is a better description? I wouldn't say that I have OCD--maybe ADD!!!!--but I am definitely a perfectionist.

[FishinChef]

Definitely not OCD if there is productivity.

The DSM definition requires that the compulsion which stems from the obsession be irrational and without benefit. More like hyperactive superstition.

If your obsessiveness produces positve results it isn't OCD.

I see your point; maybe it doesn't match the textbook definition. Some of these habits are definately irrational but I've found a use for them in my kitchen. For example, I have a daytime prep/utility worker who must have all of her equipment/utensils/smallwares in the same place all the time. Even one pan out of place irks her to death and first thing every shift, she organizes her area before even starting production. This worker is diagnosed as OCD (or so she says)and she is a huge help to keeping my tiny kitchen in order. She also does some quantity prep where consistency is essential in sizing and appearance. Her product looks more consistent than my more experienced culinary grads food.

Could perfectionism be considered a form of OCD? I mean sometimes perfectionism can work against you. I jokingly ask my perfectionist team members how old they were when they finally learned to tie their shoes; as they are so stubborn that they just have to learn through their own experiences rather than taking the direction they are given. Each one of my team members has something a little "strange" in their personalities and I see it as my job to place them where it benefits my kitchen/customers the most. Some are better at plating (because everything MUST be perfect), some better at effecient prep (because everything MUST be organized), and some better at turnout(because everything MUST be fast) I model my entire kitchen dynamic around these quirks and patterns,(because everybody MUST be in the right place) always have. Maybe it's splitting hairs to define these patterns. Yes we are all nuts to be in this business anyway. I'd be lucky if OCD is my only mental disorder.

[jonesg]

I had a freind who worked at McClaens hospital, he said the OCD err.."clients" were typical as most always HAD to take 3 showers in the morning or they couldn't function.

Today its completely over-diagnosed among children who are just being ......children.

If you've ever seen the FOX program Nanny 911, all those families could be mistakenly diagnosed as ADD or OCD, but the program proves they are just self centered and respond to positive direction within days.

Real OCD is a crippling condition but most of what I see is just a fancy cover name for being a selfish self centered jerk.

[lebelage]

"Could perfectionism be considered a form of OCD?"

Single criteria or behaviors are symptoms, not forms of OCD and multiple need to be met. Many people claim to be diagnosed with OCD who have in fact only been judged to meet some of the criteria- kind of like how someone will refer to themselves as "depressed" when they are in fact "sad".

Perfectionism is a symptom of OCD only if it results in lack of task completion.. say, if that person just kept rearranging their mise all morning and never did any actual work.

But even then it is still only one symptom... Generally if someone has OCD they are unlikely to be joking about it in the workplace.

[mark1]

Eureka! I think by accident we've found an industry absolutely made for the OCd's and must spread the word that there's a perfect job waiting for you!

[FishinChef]

"Could perfectionism be considered a form of OCD?"

Perfectionism is a symptom of OCD only if it results in lack of task completion.. say, if that person just kept rearranging their mise all morning and never did any actual work.

Yes, I see your point again. And it makes a lot of sense. A perfectionist who couldn't complete a task would have a lot of internal conflict. I can only imagine the level of frustration that would go through their mind, both at work and at home.

And just to be clear; in no way am I mocking or making fun of anyone with a mental illness as I realize for many it is not a joke, but a personal issue that is dealt with everyday of their life. Just trying to make sense of this unique working environment the best way I can. Thanks everyone for the input.