"Finance ought to make sense… so lets get blogging… join the fun!"
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Greetings, here is a video you might appreciate watching. What do you think?.. as the author of this book usually asks after showing it to the audience?
This video was very shocking. I did not think that was going to be the topic when the video started. It surprised me and made me feel sad that this kind of work conditions happens everyday. This is what I love about working in Restaurants. The organized chaos that goes on behind those kitchen doors, a customer could never even imagine unless they have worked in a restaurant themselves. In most situations I think it is cool that so many little things go into running a restaurant that a customer never sees and to a customer a restaurant is a relaxing place not chaos. Regardless, in this particular situation the poor work conditions, promotions, pay and illegal employees is lack of proper management. No worker should be working if they are visibly sick. If a company cannot afford for this one employee to call out sick, maybe they should not be in the restaurant business. However it is also partly the employees faults. For example that one employee who could potentionally be a great server, he should speak up and ask to try out serving. The employee who only gets paid for 40 hours a week instead of 65, needs to use his voice. If the company will not make his pay fair, he technically can take them to court. I understand that it seems as though a lot of these employees are afraid to lose their job in a sense, however employees have rights. they need to use their voice to be treated fairly.
Ashley brings up many good points but it is important to remember that not all company's have the type of environment that encourages input from employees. Many low wage employees are too afraid that they will lose their job if they complain so they would rather keep quiet and earn some type of money. Low wage employees are generally very easy to replace and because of this there is not a lot of job security.
This video would be very eye-opening for people not familiar with the restaurant industry. Many people believe that if someone works in an upscale restaurant, then they are being compensated with a high wage in accordance with the higher service and quality offered. This is not the case however and employees rely on tips to supplement their wages. This video once again brings up the point that tipping is not necessarily a good thing for employees. It would be very beneficial to take away tipping and simply supplement the extra cost for higher wages by charging slightly higher prices for services. This video also brought up the issue of sexual harassment in the industry. This has been an issue for a long time because the industry used to be predominately male, but as more and more females are joining the ranks, hopefully this will be eradicated soon. It is important for customers to be aware of what is actually going on at the restaurants they patronize because everything is not always how it seems
I agree with you on how this is a great example as to why tipping is not always the best for employees. It might seem like a good idea and great incentive, but in reality most hourly employees are not or just barely getting by financially. It would be a great idea to get rid of tipping, higher wages and higher prices, but I do not see the U.S. doing that anytime soon.
Excellent points... I wrote a long response and then somehow it got deleted... cant believe this!!! Phew, I will let you all chime in now... continue the great discussion... and hopefully you all will soon have the authority and responsibility to do something about such challenges.
I believe that people earn what they are worth when they are worth it. but after i watched this video, i did not know that this kind of condition happens to some restaurants but not all. In this video, restaurant was looks nice, so i thought the high quality kitchens offer the best training and career advancement for them. maybe i was wrong. if employees work for just make money, i think they need to find a better job for them unless you really wanted to work in restaurant industry. I think choosing the right career path and find the most lucrative position can bring them double income later in their life. if they really wanted to work in restaurant industry, they have a rights to tell their employer that they need to be treated equally and fairly.
I can see your point of view, and I looked at the video a little differently. I see these as issues industry wide, not just at that one or a couple restaurants. The issue you brought up about the kitchen and being trained properly I don't see as an employee training issue but more of a management training issue. The manager should be aware of sexual harassment and sick employees and know how to deal with it.
My first question is, Why is management taking part of the servers tips? My only thought would be so it can evenly be divided to bussers and bartenders. I feel that these issues are industry wide and yet they are still issues that have not been solved. The restaurant industry has such a high labor cost that is so hard to over come. When I see things such as people not getting paid for their correct hours, or employees sick on the job, my first thought is going to look back at the manager. How can you as a manager let these things happen? I understand you want to control your labor cost but at the same time, why not make the employee happy, let them enjoy their job. To me I see it as, a happy employee, makes a happier customer, which makes a happier owner. So many people don't realize this about restaurants and assume that things are picture perfect as they may appear on the outside.
I completely agree with you Korin. I really like your comment happy worker, happy business/environment/customers.... so true! I am surprised at how upbeat these workers were with such bad conditions.
I also agree. I do not understand why management is taking part of the tips. The gratuity is solely for the wait staff and everybody knows that's. The tips are either separated by section or a pooled house
I also agree with your comment. By having happy workers, a manager can reduce their turnover rate. The costs of training new employees can greatly increase your labor costs. When it comes down to it, it would most likely be less costly to the manager to improve conditions for current employees than have them unhappy and willing to leave.
I must say I am surprised about what I saw in this video. It is true that guest in restaurants think, lets go to restaurant where they use environmentally friendly products and where the service is good, and no-one thinks about what happens behind kitchen doors. What is it that makes us as guests think about what we get served but not how the employees are being treated. Next to that, how could this problem be solved. I think it is a difficult issue that is hard to solve because nobody really can speak up about their work circumstances, and it is an issue that is easy to lie about. Like Korin said, when you are eating in a restaurant, everything seems perfect on the outside but there could be so many problems on the "inside". I do believe that the work circumstances need to change and we, as hospitality managers, are part of that change.
I agree, I hear environmentally friendly and for that price tag, I expect great service from the staff and management. I do believe that we are part of the change. As hospitality students we need to be aware of what goes on in our industry. We need to learn now, so when we enter management rolls, we know exactly the type of manager we want to be and stick to our true knowledge about food safety and presentation, even under all the pressure of a Saturday night shift.
This video was very different than I expected. As a consumer, when I walk into a restaurant that is serving organic food and has such a high price tag, I automatically expect a great experience. I assume the management is great and the staff works hard, but loves what they do. This video showed me that is not always true. I was surprised to read about the cook working while clearing being infected with a dangerous disease. This is a safety hazard to the people he is working around as well the guest he is cooking food for. It is incredible how some restaurants can have multiple managers who just don't care, how can a manager let a cook work while sick? And how can a manger all an employee to be sexually harassed. Managers must make themselves approachable, so staff can come to them with any kind of questions or concerns! On the other hand everyone has the potential to better themselves. That being said if the busser and waitress aren't making enough money to support themselves, they should actively be looking for other employment. The hospitality industry pays low wages and people know that going in. I think the video definitely showed things are not always as one perceives. Unfortunately poor restaurant management will always be part of the industry, but I think restaurants have come a long way with reputation and food safety in the last fifteen years.
As someone who has worked in the restaurant industry all my life, this was actually horrifying to watch. I've never been happier to be an employee at the restaurant I've worked at the past four years because it could not be more different from the restaurant depicted in this video. I know that most of the blurbs about each person said that they were afraid to speak up or say something to upper management, but I don't get how the company is getting away with all of these problems. Like Oscar, who works 65 hours a week but only gets paid for 40? That is 100% illegal. I'm assuming some of these employees probably don't know their rights and that's why they haven't spoken up, or maybe they're just afraid to get fired. It's sad though because unless you work in the restaurant, you virtually will never know what goes on outside of the dining room. It could be the most corrupt company and you could continue eating there and supporting them. It's really sad.
This video is extremely eye opening. I think the average patron would be SHOCKED at such poor working conditions. This video clearly shows managements ability to take advantage of their workers. All of the employees in this video are both overworked and underpaid. It is alarming that management is able to exploit their employees in such ways. The fact that the line cook worked while having pink eye and H1N1 is unsanitary and inexcusable. In addition, the pastry chef should never feel uncomfortable at work, let alone get sexually harassed by coworkers. It is clear management is only concerned with their paycheck and is putting their business at serious risk. I believe that this restaurant will close in a matter of time due to this horrible working environment. This video also makes the watcher aware of how people are both willing and desperate to make money for their families that they work in such poor conditions without questioning the situation. This is a sad reality America faces and our industry should strive to make working conditions better for loyal, dedicated employees.
I agree when you recognized the fact that the majority of these workers know they are treated poorly and paid unethically yet they continue to work at this restaurant for fear of not being able to support their family otherwise. It's unsettling to think that managers get away with this just because they take advantage of the knowledge that their employees don't have another choice.
This video as other students have said would be shocking to people that either don't work in the industry or don't study the industry. I have worked in a variety of kitchens and service styles and the common theme is that every place has workers who don't get paid what they deserve and there is people that get paid too much to do nothing. There are very few ways to change this trend, one of the only ways i feel it can change is if more people become aware of the problem, and want to do something about the problem. The most shocking thing i saw in the video was that management took part of the tip money, that is completely unethical waitstaff should not be working on minimum wage let alone $2.13 a hour. if a company pays a employee more a hour, the experience is better for everyone at the restaurant and then people over time might be willing to pay more for the quality service that pays more to employees. The bottom line is that this change needs to be made soon because of the time it takes for things to change throughout the country. .
I was shocked after watching this video. I have never seen employees being mistreated like that in a workplace. Management must be really bad if employees are getting away with sexual harassment and not being paid properly. It really made me upset when it showed the young gentlemen who was working 60+ hours a week and only getting paid for 40. It was not enough for that man to supply for his family. Also the line cook being sick and still preparing food for the customers, that is something that can not happen, Im surprised that business has not received any law suits or sick cases on their hands. If any of those employee were smart, they would be looking for a better job in which they can be proud of. So the bottom line comes to the manager having to a better job of running his business or else it will fail. After watching the video it clear that better managers are needed in order to succeed as a whole(team).
This video is shocking and saddening. I would hope that this is not the norm, but as customers we really have no way of knowing. I can't believe management lets many of things they showed in this video slide- a sick line cook, sexual harassment, paid for 40 hours instead of 60, etc. I was also shocked that management took a portion of the servers tips. I work as a server, and at the end of the night I tip out busers and people in the kitchen, but management gets none of that. Though I found all of the examples used in the video deplorable, I was also a little frustrated with the ending of the video. I wish they would have told us what we could do about it, or how we could support ethical restaurants. I also want to know how common this is. It is very sad, and we as future managers in the industry should not stand for this.
I am shocked and saddened by this video. I am surprised this is happening in a high end restaurant and bet the guests have no idea. My only question is why are the working putting up with it? Find a new job or go on strike. I know it's not that cut and dry when you have people depending on you, but star job searching! It's a shame what a few bad managers have the power to do and it is good to make us as future managers aware of this behavior so we can change it.
I was very disturbed by this video. I am curious if this is just a mock of what happens or if this is filmed in a real restaurant location. The people in the video are working hard and should get at least minimum wage and over time as compensation for their long and hard days. It is wrong for management to be taking a portion of the tips especially if the workers depend on the tips to make up for the lack of their salary. However, my question is why are these employees staying in these horrible working conditions. It is illegal to get paid under minimum wage, that is why there is a standard. As full time employees they should be getting healthcare and workers compensation. It is just as bad for them to stay in these conditions as it is for them to receive such a lack support.
When the video said something about eating ethically I did not think it would have anything to do with labor. This sort of situation does happen quite often and is not very suitable for a lot of people. When you have a work environment where management makes it hard or challenging for employees to put heir input in, then this type of scenario can happen. There should be no undocumented workers because if someone would actually come and check the restaurant would be in a lot of trouble. Although restaurants do need all of their cooks, if a line cook has the possibility to contaminate food they should be able to get off of work. However, although this does happen a lot, it does not happen everywhere and that's something that many people who watch this clip may not understand.
Studying to be a restaurant manager, seeing this video was very shocking. The working conditions and treatment of these employees in what looks like to be a fine dining restaurant was beyond unethical. This video definitely serves its purpose of grabbing the viewer's attention so they want to find out more information about the book, which is exactly what I want to do. However, just seeing that one clip I feel it shows very bias view points. For the people who won't continue to read the book, they now have the mindset that that's how the whole restaurant industry is, which I think is false information - we hardly know where this one place is located. Confident that the author isn't stereotyping the whole restaurant industry as poorly treating their employees, I would be interested to hear more about her research. It is appalling to think that this video, which did not take place in a McDonald's for instance, but rather a fine dining establishment, showed manager's lack of concern for their employee's well being. I agree with what people are saying that manager's care more about their high check average, and profit than the wages and salaries of it's staff. High employee satisfaction results in happy guests so I'd be curious to see restaurant reviews of this place. I also wonder how long these people will continue working for this place if known about better benefits or job opportunities at neighboring locations.
I agree with you in that those who only watch this video may end with a tainted view of the industry based on this one restaurant. I think this video leaves a lot up for discussion though. Is it the management not caring about their employees? Is it the employees not speaking up or expressing that they have a problem? Are these more common issues than we think about? Should more restaurant establishments, fast food to fine dining, be investigated for these types of issues? Did the creator of this video find the one restaurant with the most extreme working conditions for employees and use it to make a dramatic statement? I think that reading the book would be able to answer some of these questions, but it worries me that I imagine most people will not continue on to read the book and will think of this video more often than not as a reflection of the industry. Also, I too agree in wondering why these people are still working for this company/manger when they must know there are better opportunities out there!
Definitely an insightful piece, however, I feel that there is a bigger factor that caused all of this. Businesses in the industry seek profit from their day to day operation and to grow as a company in the future. Making profit is possible by increasing revenue or decreasing costs. In the restaurant context, profit margin is not terribly high because of the many associated cost. Restaurants cannot raise the price too high to increase revenue too because it will affect customer demand. So in the midst of balancing all these factors, I think businesses try control expense as much as possible so that a larger portion of revenue will remain as profit at the end of the day. Looking at short term effects, paying your employees less than what they deserve and yet making them work more than they should seem like a good idea. If the employee does not like the low pay, they can be easily replaced. However, in the long run, it will impact the quality of service if employees are not taken care of. They bring the worries and troubles in their own personal lives into the working environment which may show when they are interacting with customers. I have no way of knowing if the conditions in the video only apply to that establishment or if it is more widespread. Nonetheless, labor is a huge expense in the hospitality industry.
I also noticed that some of the workers looked like foreigners which made the situation worse. I would think that as foreigners, they came to America, whether legally or illegally, to look for better opportunities. Although they get paid what the average Americans would think is outrageously little, it is a lot to them, more than what other jobs back in their home country might be able to give them. But of course, the higher cost of living in America offsets that. I also think that this condition exist maybe because they are unaware of what they are entitled to as employees. We have learned that each state has established their own minimum wage, and that sexual harassment in the work place is a violation of the law and that employees who are sick are not even allowed to be in the establishment for fear of an outbreak. However, with low qualifications, I do not think they have much option and I think they would rather have a job and be making something than be out of job or in the process of looking for one and not make anything.
I found this video to be very shocking with what the topic was actually about, and the content that it pertained. As a customer at this restaurant you would probably not think anything was wrong. You are in a great atmosphere paying top dollar for wine and filet mignon. However, what is really going on behind the scenes is disgraceful. People are being taken advantage of whether its salary, not getting paid for bonus hours, or getting mistreated by other co-workers. The restaurant is taking advantage of these workers who won't speak up because they are illegal, foreign, or just because this is the only job they could find. These employees are probably worrying about getting fired and loosing the little money they do make if they speak up. As some one that has worked in the restaurant industry I was disturbed but I have never seen it before, and even though I know these situations are out there I know they are rare. However, for someone who has never worked in the industry they may take the impression that this is how every restaurant is, even though it's not true. This video does do a great job of grabbing the viewers attention, and sparking interest in reading the whole book.
I found most of the events in this video to be unacceptable. The owners and management could easily have a lawsuit on their hands in these conditions. When I worked with management this past summer in food & beverage, I always made sure that my employees were being properly treated and properly compensated for their hours. As for the pay, some bartenders and waitresses can make substantially more than management depending on the restaurant. I also worked in a number of settings outside of hospitality where people were undercompensated and were afraid to leave work if they were injured or sick. In a factory setting for instance, people used to superglue cuts to finish their shift then go to the hospital in order to avoid an incident report that could prohibit them from working for a few weeks. Many industries need an overhaul on this matter, not just the hospitality industry.
Having worked in a restaurant several times this video is not all that shocking, but still very upsetting. Tipped employees face many struggles, such as not being able to afford health insurance or find child care during the day as stated in the video. Also the video showed that the servers have to give a portion of their tips to management, which surprised me. I do not think that is fair or necessary at all. Restaurant line/hourly employee turnover is usually high, but I also find it upsetting that such loyal employees like the food runner has been with the company for 15 years and has not had any promotions or growth. That does not instill hope for anyone that joins the company. The restaurant business has been facing all these struggles for as long as I can remember, so it is a shame that not much has been done to fix and improve the problems employees face everyday.
I realized the video focused on some of the pressing issues that face restaurant management. Some of the comments suggested employees need to speak up for problems with promotion opportunities, working conditions, and sexual harassment. I agree that employees need to have a voice to be heard, but I also agree with the fact that management should cherish their employees; therefore, management should encourage promotion and should make sure working conditions are acceptable and safe. In regards about the chef being sexually harassed on a daily basis, if management has not picked up on that yet then there might be a problem more on the employer side than employee side of things. Management should have a system or protocol in place for these types of issues, so their employees feel comfortable in reporting these incidents. In an industry where such a small percentage is their profit, it is hard to have such high labor costs. Management needs to find a happy medium that can both benefit their employees and their bottom line.
With 5 years of experience in restaurant work, the facts mentioned in this video were no surprise. Servers are paid a despicable wage while management expects them to supplement their income with tips alone. This reminded me of the story we read about America adopting the European tactic of increasing menu prices in order to allow management to pay employees a living wage. This video makes a good case as to why that option should be seriously considered.
My duties as a restaurant employee focused around cooking tasks. I remember days that I worked sick when we didn't have enough cooks to cover shifts. I would be lying though, if I said it really bothered me. When I made a living in that kitchen, I was happy to cover for co-workers that would rather drink than work. I made my money at that location by doing what others didn't want to. Although it may sound like I put the job above my well-being, I was happier with over-time hours (and extra dollars) on my paycheck.
I do think that management (especially at a fine dining establishment like the one in the video) needs to provide for their employees, though. The working conditions for these employees were outrageous. I believe it boils down to management holding themselves accountable for the working conditions of their employees, the same way the employees hold themselves accountable for a guest's experience.
After watching this video I was not surprised by "what happens" in the back of the house. Being an aspiring manager one day, (whether it's in a restaurant or hotel) this clip made me upset. I believe many of the problems that were shown in the video are a reflection of management's inability to solve them. Taking tips from servers is simply not right. I've worked in a restaurant in the past where the managers collected all the tips at the end of the night and distributed them out the next day. They counted them behind closed doors and there was't a way of showing the staff how the distribution was sorted. So I can see where these problems can occur. As a result many servers didn't last more than a few months.
The video also revealed two incidents where employees had no room for advancement. This could absolutely lead to unmotivated workers, turnover and dissatisfied customers. Recording all hours an employee works and sending an employee home who is sick seems like common sense. The message of this video was to show the audience that not every organization runs the way it "should" be ran. Having managers that create a good working environment and do things ethically can result in employee satisfaction and a better experience for the customer.
We will soon be in management positions. It is important that we enforce fair labor practices. We will be in positions to change grievances like the ones in this video. We must use our power responsibly and help those less fortunate than ourselves. When I become a manager, I will make sure those under me are treated with respect. I will encourage them to come to me with any problem and behave within the law and in an ethical manner. It is our duty as the next generation to change the industry for the better.
With the spectacular wealth of this nation, it is appalling that some live in such disparity. The top 1% controls 90% of this country’s wealth. There will never be change as long as the elite control the government. The modern day aristocracy is stronger more powerful than it has ever been. However, instead of publicly displaying their wealth and dominance, they choose to hide behind a façade of democracy. The elite fuels the apathy and incompetence and they cleverly distract the general population with hot button issues. Meanwhile, they slowly but surely erode your civil rights. Change, or even revolution is necessary to combat this country’s gradual decline into a police state. Every American has the right to work and receive a living wage. Undocumented workers should not be afraid to voice transgressions. Instead hardworking people who wish to find opportunity in America should be allowed to do so. They should become citizens and start paying taxes, which this indebted government so desperately needs and will no doubt immediately waste. Fair management, fair labor, and a complete overhaul of the loophole tax system in the US would be a good start.
This video was not what I was expecting when I pushed play. It is so hard to believe that these things are happening behind the scenes. Being in the industry it makes me feel ashamed that other colleagues in the field are treating their employees the way they do. I have never worked in an establishment where that has been the case, so it is hard for me to imagine. I also never would have thought that when I go to a high end restaurant, the servers are working in such awful conditions. You expect when you go somewhere high end, that the workers are taken care of and the environment you are dining in and the environment the employees are working in would be the same, high end. My other question is if people know this is happening, why has no one done anything about it? The video currently has 237,970 views and has been posted since May 4th of 2012. How is it that not one of those 237,970 people have the authority, will power, or urge to do something about this situation, or at least tell someone who might. This not only taints the way people will view our industry, but also the country as a whole.
While it is tragic to watch this video, this is not something that happens at every restaurant. This restaurant clearly has problems and has ineffective managers and owners that only care about the bottom line. The owners only want to see their profit increase and will cut costs in any way possible. That includes no benefits for hard workers, lowest possible wages possible, forcing people to work more than they should, no chances for promotion, and several other ways. One important fact to point out is that although many workers only make $2.13 per hour, their tips put them over the minimum wage. I definitely do not agree with the way this restaurant is being run, but I feel the author over emphasized many points and failed to say that this does not occur at all restaurants.
This video may simulate the combination of some extremely awful conditions in a restaurant here and there, but it feels a bit propagandistic. Clearly, this is a trailer for a film idea, and is full of actors, but I get the point. The video did lead my mind to thinking about the poor condition America has found itself, though. It truly doesn't feel ethical to pay service industry workers so damn low, having them rely on customer's not-required tipping. Working in the bar myself, I don't typically complain about being paid $2.80, because on an average day, I make the equivalent to about $15 an hour via tips. But, in Europe and other places, servers are paid a base wage, and don't expect tips. It is an interesting dynamic. For such a 'developed' country as America, there sure are some rotten practices. Hmmm.. Lis Wert
I couldn't agree with you more. People in the US try and make it a living and reason they work more then one job. I think the film was blown out of portion but it does get you thinking if this actually does happen where you eat?
This video just opened a whole new perspective for me. I work in a restaurant/kitchen and I see none of that going on. I feel like I was under a rock. In this video everything was just not right and it makes me think if this goes on in restaurants I eat at. 2.13 is just no money at all. I get paid 5.25 plus tips and I still think that is very low for the amount of hours we put in as servers and so on. The united states just does't get that people make a career out of it. Without these people these businesses would not exist. But also in this video it takes it to an extreme where many companies can get shut down for such violations. I just think yes these people are really under paid but conditions are very slim like this with health inspections happening all the time.
This topic is close to my heart. When I watched this video, I was not surprised by anything that the author detailed about each employee. I have worked in the restaurant industry since I was 16 and unfortunately, this is the nature of the beast. There will always be that "mom and pop" restaurant who tries to cut corners by allowing poor working conditions and paying employees less than minimum wage. Corporate restaurants do a much butter job of handling situations such as sexual harassment, poor working conditions and more. Restaurant guests need to understand what is happening behind closed doors when they visit a restaurant. It is infuriating as a server when the guest thinks that you are their "servent" and waves you down to come help them. I think a book like the video would help the restaurant industry. Maybe not the owners, but the employees.
I felt that the video was very realistic. Restaurants can clearly work their line level employees very hard and to their breaking point. A number of employees are unhealthy, unable to see a doctor and get health insurance. They must come to work ill because they cant afford to loose hours. I feel that sometimes a non-tipping policies would be a more acceptable way of paying servers, food runners, and bussers. This way they have a steady income and could be able to feed their families and obtain health insurance. As for having ability to move up within the company, I feel that many restaurants to have that option for employees. It seemed like no one in the video had it available to them, which seemed very unfortunate. I thought the title "Behind the Kitchen Door" is a very effective name for this documentary. It can really open your eyes to just how difficult the restaurant industry is.
I think this video is very impacting. Although it may not be the case in every restaurant these working conditions come to no surprise to me as someone who has been working in restaurant for 5 years. Even with the knowledge of what goes on "behind the scenes" ,I will admit when I'm the customer I'm more interested in the service, food and overall experience of my dining. This s is often the case of with diners, thus this video may seem appalling to them. I think many people are under the impression that waitressing, bartending etc. is "easy" money and a good way to support yourself. I don't think their aware how little they really are getting paid for how hard they work without tips and their inability to afford needed things such as health insurance. Also, I think this is why many employees try to work for larger companies such as Darden. These companies have effective management programs and offer benefits to employees that other restaurants may not.. By ensuring a property will have a well-trained, knowledgeable manager, the working conditions can be improved. An effective manager can only change so much though. I believe it will be a long time until the service industry conditions and pay are improved.
This topic was not something that I was expecting to watch when I opened this video clip. However, I am not surprised by all of these situations that happens at the back of the house even though I have never worked in a restaurant before. I do believe some of the job within our industry may not require too much professional experience and higher educational background rather than real world experience, but this cannot become the reason that managers or owners are not treating them the way they customers, and good servers can be valuable asset for restaurants. At the same time, one of the most important issues that I found is absolutely unacceptable is chef had to handle food even though he was sick. It is irresponsible for both the employee and customers. To sum up, it is very important for operations to be ethical responsible for their employees.
This video changed the way I think about dining at a restaurant now. It shocked me to see that so many employees are underpaid or are having certain issues that are not dealt with. It upsets me to see that there are so many problems with the restaurant industry. I've worked in a restaurant before but I've never heard of problems like these before. Many of these employees might not be trained professionally or educated so they might not know how to deal with certain problems. But that is where the managers come in and assist them with their problems. Diners usually don't see the back of the restaurant and the conditions that people are working in. I'm sure many restaurants are not like this and have a great management staff and system. However, what I saw in this video is not acceptable. The guy who is working 65 hours a week and is only getting paid for 40 hours should do something about it. He needs to be paid for what he is actually working for and it is unfair for him. The pastry chef who was getting sexually harassed needs to speak out too. Whoever is harassing her at work needs to be dealt with and she could sue that person. Also, the chef who was working when he was sick definitely violates many health codes. He worked when he had the flu and it could get a customer very sick if things weren't handled right. He should not be working there when he is sick in the first place. The management team at the restaurant is responsible for all this mess and with a good operations and management team, none of this would happen. Employees would be paid properly, sexual harassment would not occur, and no one sick would be cooking.
This video is extremely shocking. It definitely makes you think more about the employees when you are going to eat somewhere, and really links with the saying "you can never judge a book by its cover". As a guest at this restaurant, the decor and interior give off a feeling of elegance and class. The worst part from me was the man who was working for 65 hours and not getting paid for all of his hard work. This is something that happens many times in businesses when they are paid on salary, but when people are working hourly and for tips, it takes it to a whole other level. This restaurants management needs to really make a stronger connection with its employees and start treating them fairly. For the employees they should be able to feel that they can speak with management about their situations, and if they are not being treated fairly there is something they should be able to do about it.
This video is crazy, although being in the foodservice industry for ten years, I completely believe it. The employees are often mistreated by management, especially when they are on salary. I often find that the more high class a restaurant appears the worse they treat their employees, this of course is a generalization. If you never worked in a restaurant before, It is nearly impossible to assume the working conditions in the back of the house. I have burns covering my forearms.
This video was eye-opening. The condition in which so many employees are working is shocking. It is sad to think that there are people who are working more hours than they are paid, and even have to go into work when they are sick because they can't afford to see a doctor. As others have mentioned it is very important for management to be approachable and for them to create a pleasant environment in which employees feel motivated, and don't feel as though they are being taken for granted. Earlier in the semester we discussed tipping policies. This video really puts things into perspective. Working in a restaurant is very hard, and a lot of workers aren't being compensated for what they do. In a way customers pay for service as well as food, but It should not be up to the customer to basically make up for the difference of what employees aren't getting paid in tips, especially if they are doing this based on their own judgement of how they thought the service was. It is hard for employees to stay motivated, and offer excellent service when they are working in such a hectic environment and don't feel as though they are being compensated.
Wow I can't believe this video, it insane how many people 1.don't speak up and 2. don't think that there is a way out or that this is normal. People work in hard conditions with the hope of promotions and change and a lot of that doesn't happen. People don't see that, what people see is employees striving and working hard and believe that they are getting rewarded as they should.
This video was very shocking. I did not think that was going to be the topic when the video started. It surprised me and made me feel sad that this kind of work conditions happens everyday. This is what I love about working in Restaurants. The organized chaos that goes on behind those kitchen doors, a customer could never even imagine unless they have worked in a restaurant themselves. In most situations I think it is cool that so many little things go into running a restaurant that a customer never sees and to a customer a restaurant is a relaxing place not chaos. Regardless, in this particular situation the poor work conditions, promotions, pay and illegal employees is lack of proper management. No worker should be working if they are visibly sick. If a company cannot afford for this one employee to call out sick, maybe they should not be in the restaurant business. However it is also partly the employees faults. For example that one employee who could potentionally be a great server, he should speak up and ask to try out serving. The employee who only gets paid for 40 hours a week instead of 65, needs to use his voice. If the company will not make his pay fair, he technically can take them to court. I understand that it seems as though a lot of these employees are afraid to lose their job in a sense, however employees have rights. they need to use their voice to be treated fairly.
ReplyDeleteAshley brings up many good points but it is important to remember that not all company's have the type of environment that encourages input from employees. Many low wage employees are too afraid that they will lose their job if they complain so they would rather keep quiet and earn some type of money. Low wage employees are generally very easy to replace and because of this there is not a lot of job security.
DeleteThis video would be very eye-opening for people not familiar with the restaurant industry. Many people believe that if someone works in an upscale restaurant, then they are being compensated with a high wage in accordance with the higher service and quality offered. This is not the case however and employees rely on tips to supplement their wages. This video once again brings up the point that tipping is not necessarily a good thing for employees. It would be very beneficial to take away tipping and simply supplement the extra cost for higher wages by charging slightly higher prices for services. This video also brought up the issue of sexual harassment in the industry. This has been an issue for a long time because the industry used to be predominately male, but as more and more females are joining the ranks, hopefully this will be eradicated soon. It is important for customers to be aware of what is actually going on at the restaurants they patronize because everything is not always how it seems
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on how this is a great example as to why tipping is not always the best for employees. It might seem like a good idea and great incentive, but in reality most hourly employees are not or just barely getting by financially. It would be a great idea to get rid of tipping, higher wages and higher prices, but I do not see the U.S. doing that anytime soon.
DeleteExcellent points... I wrote a long response and then somehow it got deleted... cant believe this!!! Phew, I will let you all chime in now... continue the great discussion... and hopefully you all will soon have the authority and responsibility to do something about such challenges.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people earn what they are worth when they are worth it. but after i watched this video, i did not know that this kind of condition happens to some restaurants but not all. In this video, restaurant was looks nice, so i thought the high quality kitchens offer the best training and career advancement for them. maybe i was wrong. if employees work for just make money, i think they need to find a better job for them unless you really wanted to work in restaurant industry. I think choosing the right career path and find the most lucrative position can bring them double income later in their life. if they really wanted to work in restaurant industry, they have a rights to tell their employer that they need to be treated equally and fairly.
ReplyDeleteI can see your point of view, and I looked at the video a little differently. I see these as issues industry wide, not just at that one or a couple restaurants. The issue you brought up about the kitchen and being trained properly I don't see as an employee training issue but more of a management training issue. The manager should be aware of sexual harassment and sick employees and know how to deal with it.
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ReplyDeleteMy first question is, Why is management taking part of the servers tips? My only thought would be so it can evenly be divided to bussers and bartenders. I feel that these issues are industry wide and yet they are still issues that have not been solved. The restaurant industry has such a high labor cost that is so hard to over come. When I see things such as people not getting paid for their correct hours, or employees sick on the job, my first thought is going to look back at the manager. How can you as a manager let these things happen? I understand you want to control your labor cost but at the same time, why not make the employee happy, let them enjoy their job. To me I see it as, a happy employee, makes a happier customer, which makes a happier owner. So many people don't realize this about restaurants and assume that things are picture perfect as they may appear on the outside.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Korin. I really like your comment happy worker, happy business/environment/customers.... so true! I am surprised at how upbeat these workers were with such bad conditions.
DeleteI also agree. I do not understand why management is taking part of the tips. The gratuity is solely for the wait staff and everybody knows that's. The tips are either separated by section or a pooled house
DeleteI also agree with your comment. By having happy workers, a manager can reduce their turnover rate. The costs of training new employees can greatly increase your labor costs. When it comes down to it, it would most likely be less costly to the manager to improve conditions for current employees than have them unhappy and willing to leave.
DeleteI must say I am surprised about what I saw in this video. It is true that guest in restaurants think, lets go to restaurant where they use environmentally friendly products and where the service is good, and no-one thinks about what happens behind kitchen doors. What is it that makes us as guests think about what we get served but not how the employees are being treated. Next to that, how could this problem be solved. I think it is a difficult issue that is hard to solve because nobody really can speak up about their work circumstances, and it is an issue that is easy to lie about. Like Korin said, when you are eating in a restaurant, everything seems perfect on the outside but there could be so many problems on the "inside". I do believe that the work circumstances need to change and we, as hospitality managers, are part of that change.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I hear environmentally friendly and for that price tag, I expect great service from the staff and management. I do believe that we are part of the change. As hospitality students we need to be aware of what goes on in our industry. We need to learn now, so when we enter management rolls, we know exactly the type of manager we want to be and stick to our true knowledge about food safety and presentation, even under all the pressure of a Saturday night shift.
DeleteThis video was very different than I expected. As a consumer, when I walk into a restaurant that is serving organic food and has such a high price tag, I automatically expect a great experience. I assume the management is great and the staff works hard, but loves what they do. This video showed me that is not always true. I was surprised to read about the cook working while clearing being infected with a dangerous disease. This is a safety hazard to the people he is working around as well the guest he is cooking food for. It is incredible how some restaurants can have multiple managers who just don't care, how can a manager let a cook work while sick? And how can a manger all an employee to be sexually harassed. Managers must make themselves approachable, so staff can come to them with any kind of questions or concerns! On the other hand everyone has the potential to better themselves. That being said if the busser and waitress aren't making enough money to support themselves, they should actively be looking for other employment. The hospitality industry pays low wages and people know that going in. I think the video definitely showed things are not always as one perceives. Unfortunately poor restaurant management will always be part of the industry, but I think restaurants have come a long way with reputation and food safety in the last fifteen years.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has worked in the restaurant industry all my life, this was actually horrifying to watch. I've never been happier to be an employee at the restaurant I've worked at the past four years because it could not be more different from the restaurant depicted in this video. I know that most of the blurbs about each person said that they were afraid to speak up or say something to upper management, but I don't get how the company is getting away with all of these problems. Like Oscar, who works 65 hours a week but only gets paid for 40? That is 100% illegal. I'm assuming some of these employees probably don't know their rights and that's why they haven't spoken up, or maybe they're just afraid to get fired. It's sad though because unless you work in the restaurant, you virtually will never know what goes on outside of the dining room. It could be the most corrupt company and you could continue eating there and supporting them. It's really sad.
ReplyDeleteThis video is extremely eye opening. I think the average patron would be SHOCKED at such poor working conditions. This video clearly shows managements ability to take advantage of their workers. All of the employees in this video are both overworked and underpaid. It is alarming that management is able to exploit their employees in such ways. The fact that the line cook worked while having pink eye and H1N1 is unsanitary and inexcusable. In addition, the pastry chef should never feel uncomfortable at work, let alone get sexually harassed by coworkers. It is clear management is only concerned with their paycheck and is putting their business at serious risk. I believe that this restaurant will close in a matter of time due to this horrible working environment. This video also makes the watcher aware of how people are both willing and desperate to make money for their families that they work in such poor conditions without questioning the situation. This is a sad reality America faces and our industry should strive to make working conditions better for loyal, dedicated employees.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you recognized the fact that the majority of these workers know they are treated poorly and paid unethically yet they continue to work at this restaurant for fear of not being able to support their family otherwise. It's unsettling to think that managers get away with this just because they take advantage of the knowledge that their employees don't have another choice.
DeleteThis video as other students have said would be shocking to people that either don't work in the industry or don't study the industry. I have worked in a variety of kitchens and service styles and the common theme is that every place has workers who don't get paid what they deserve and there is people that get paid too much to do nothing. There are very few ways to change this trend, one of the only ways i feel it can change is if more people become aware of the problem, and want to do something about the problem. The most shocking thing i saw in the video was that management took part of the tip money, that is completely unethical waitstaff should not be working on minimum wage let alone $2.13 a hour. if a company pays a employee more a hour, the experience is better for everyone at the restaurant and then people over time might be willing to pay more for the quality service that pays more to employees. The bottom line is that this change needs to be made soon because of the time it takes for things to change throughout the country. .
ReplyDeleteI was shocked after watching this video. I have never seen employees being mistreated like that in a workplace. Management must be really bad if employees are getting away with sexual harassment and not being paid properly. It really made me upset when it showed the young gentlemen who was working 60+ hours a week and only getting paid for 40. It was not enough for that man to supply for his family. Also the line cook being sick and still preparing food for the customers, that is something that can not happen, Im surprised that business has not received any law suits or sick cases on their hands. If any of those employee were smart, they would be looking for a better job in which they can be proud of. So the bottom line comes to the manager having to a better job of running his business or else it will fail. After watching the video it clear that better managers are needed in order to succeed as a whole(team).
ReplyDeleteThis video is shocking and saddening. I would hope that this is not the norm, but as customers we really have no way of knowing. I can't believe management lets many of things they showed in this video slide- a sick line cook, sexual harassment, paid for 40 hours instead of 60, etc. I was also shocked that management took a portion of the servers tips. I work as a server, and at the end of the night I tip out busers and people in the kitchen, but management gets none of that. Though I found all of the examples used in the video deplorable, I was also a little frustrated with the ending of the video. I wish they would have told us what we could do about it, or how we could support ethical restaurants. I also want to know how common this is. It is very sad, and we as future managers in the industry should not stand for this.
ReplyDeleteI am shocked and saddened by this video. I am surprised this is happening in a high end restaurant and bet the guests have no idea. My only question is why are the working putting up with it? Find a new job or go on strike. I know it's not that cut and dry when you have people depending on you, but star job searching! It's a shame what a few bad managers have the power to do and it is good to make us as future managers aware of this behavior so we can change it.
ReplyDeleteI was very disturbed by this video. I am curious if this is just a mock of what happens or if this is filmed in a real restaurant location. The people in the video are working hard and should get at least minimum wage and over time as compensation for their long and hard days. It is wrong for management to be taking a portion of the tips especially if the workers depend on the tips to make up for the lack of their salary. However, my question is why are these employees staying in these horrible working conditions. It is illegal to get paid under minimum wage, that is why there is a standard. As full time employees they should be getting healthcare and workers compensation. It is just as bad for them to stay in these conditions as it is for them to receive such a lack support.
ReplyDeleteWhen the video said something about eating ethically I did not think it would have anything to do with labor. This sort of situation does happen quite often and is not very suitable for a lot of people. When you have a work environment where management makes it hard or challenging for employees to put heir input in, then this type of scenario can happen. There should be no undocumented workers because if someone would actually come and check the restaurant would be in a lot of trouble. Although restaurants do need all of their cooks, if a line cook has the possibility to contaminate food they should be able to get off of work. However, although this does happen a lot, it does not happen everywhere and that's something that many people who watch this clip may not understand.
ReplyDeleteStudying to be a restaurant manager, seeing this video was very shocking. The working conditions and treatment of these employees in what looks like to be a fine dining restaurant was beyond unethical. This video definitely serves its purpose of grabbing the viewer's attention so they want to find out more information about the book, which is exactly what I want to do. However, just seeing that one clip I feel it shows very bias view points. For the people who won't continue to read the book, they now have the mindset that that's how the whole restaurant industry is, which I think is false information - we hardly know where this one place is located. Confident that the author isn't stereotyping the whole restaurant industry as poorly treating their employees, I would be interested to hear more about her research. It is appalling to think that this video, which did not take place in a McDonald's for instance, but rather a fine dining establishment, showed manager's lack of concern for their employee's well being. I agree with what people are saying that manager's care more about their high check average, and profit than the wages and salaries of it's staff. High employee satisfaction results in happy guests so I'd be curious to see restaurant reviews of this place. I also wonder how long these people will continue working for this place if known about better benefits or job opportunities at neighboring locations.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that those who only watch this video may end with a tainted view of the industry based on this one restaurant. I think this video leaves a lot up for discussion though. Is it the management not caring about their employees? Is it the employees not speaking up or expressing that they have a problem? Are these more common issues than we think about? Should more restaurant establishments, fast food to fine dining, be investigated for these types of issues? Did the creator of this video find the one restaurant with the most extreme working conditions for employees and use it to make a dramatic statement? I think that reading the book would be able to answer some of these questions, but it worries me that I imagine most people will not continue on to read the book and will think of this video more often than not as a reflection of the industry. Also, I too agree in wondering why these people are still working for this company/manger when they must know there are better opportunities out there!
DeleteDefinitely an insightful piece, however, I feel that there is a bigger factor that caused all of this. Businesses in the industry seek profit from their day to day operation and to grow as a company in the future. Making profit is possible by increasing revenue or decreasing costs. In the restaurant context, profit margin is not terribly high because of the many associated cost. Restaurants cannot raise the price too high to increase revenue too because it will affect customer demand. So in the midst of balancing all these factors, I think businesses try control expense as much as possible so that a larger portion of revenue will remain as profit at the end of the day. Looking at short term effects, paying your employees less than what they deserve and yet making them work more than they should seem like a good idea. If the employee does not like the low pay, they can be easily replaced. However, in the long run, it will impact the quality of service if employees are not taken care of. They bring the worries and troubles in their own personal lives into the working environment which may show when they are interacting with customers. I have no way of knowing if the conditions in the video only apply to that establishment or if it is more widespread. Nonetheless, labor is a huge expense in the hospitality industry.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that some of the workers looked like foreigners which made the situation worse. I would think that as foreigners, they came to America, whether legally or illegally, to look for better opportunities. Although they get paid what the average Americans would think is outrageously little, it is a lot to them, more than what other jobs back in their home country might be able to give them. But of course, the higher cost of living in America offsets that. I also think that this condition exist maybe because they are unaware of what they are entitled to as employees. We have learned that each state has established their own minimum wage, and that sexual harassment in the work place is a violation of the law and that employees who are sick are not even allowed to be in the establishment for fear of an outbreak. However, with low qualifications, I do not think they have much option and I think they would rather have a job and be making something than be out of job or in the process of looking for one and not make anything.
I found this video to be very shocking with what the topic was actually about, and the content that it pertained. As a customer at this restaurant you would probably not think anything was wrong. You are in a great atmosphere paying top dollar for wine and filet mignon. However, what is really going on behind the scenes is disgraceful. People are being taken advantage of whether its salary, not getting paid for bonus hours, or getting mistreated by other co-workers. The restaurant is taking advantage of these workers who won't speak up because they are illegal, foreign, or just because this is the only job they could find. These employees are probably worrying about getting fired and loosing the little money they do make if they speak up. As some one that has worked in the restaurant industry I was disturbed but I have never seen it before, and even though I know these situations are out there I know they are rare. However, for someone who has never worked in the industry they may take the impression that this is how every restaurant is, even though it's not true. This video does do a great job of grabbing the viewers attention, and sparking interest in reading the whole book.
ReplyDeleteI found most of the events in this video to be unacceptable. The owners and management could easily have a lawsuit on their hands in these conditions. When I worked with management this past summer in food & beverage, I always made sure that my employees were being properly treated and properly compensated for their hours. As for the pay, some bartenders and waitresses can make substantially more than management depending on the restaurant. I also worked in a number of settings outside of hospitality where people were undercompensated and were afraid to leave work if they were injured or sick. In a factory setting for instance, people used to superglue cuts to finish their shift then go to the hospital in order to avoid an incident report that could prohibit them from working for a few weeks. Many industries need an overhaul on this matter, not just the hospitality industry.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked in a restaurant several times this video is not all that shocking, but still very upsetting. Tipped employees face many struggles, such as not being able to afford health insurance or find child care during the day as stated in the video. Also the video showed that the servers have to give a portion of their tips to management, which surprised me. I do not think that is fair or necessary at all. Restaurant line/hourly employee turnover is usually high, but I also find it upsetting that such loyal employees like the food runner has been with the company for 15 years and has not had any promotions or growth. That does not instill hope for anyone that joins the company. The restaurant business has been facing all these struggles for as long as I can remember, so it is a shame that not much has been done to fix and improve the problems employees face everyday.
ReplyDeleteI realized the video focused on some of the pressing issues that face restaurant management. Some of the comments suggested employees need to speak up for problems with promotion opportunities, working conditions, and sexual harassment. I agree that employees need to have a voice to be heard, but I also agree with the fact that management should cherish their employees; therefore, management should encourage promotion and should make sure working conditions are acceptable and safe. In regards about the chef being sexually harassed on a daily basis, if management has not picked up on that yet then there might be a problem more on the employer side than employee side of things. Management should have a system or protocol in place for these types of issues, so their employees feel comfortable in reporting these incidents. In an industry where such a small percentage is their profit, it is hard to have such high labor costs. Management needs to find a happy medium that can both benefit their employees and their bottom line.
ReplyDeleteWith 5 years of experience in restaurant work, the facts mentioned in this video were no surprise. Servers are paid a despicable wage while management expects them to supplement their income with tips alone. This reminded me of the story we read about America adopting the European tactic of increasing menu prices in order to allow management to pay employees a living wage. This video makes a good case as to why that option should be seriously considered.
ReplyDeleteMy duties as a restaurant employee focused around cooking tasks. I remember days that I worked sick when we didn't have enough cooks to cover shifts. I would be lying though, if I said it really bothered me. When I made a living in that kitchen, I was happy to cover for co-workers that would rather drink than work. I made my money at that location by doing what others didn't want to. Although it may sound like I put the job above my well-being, I was happier with over-time hours (and extra dollars) on my paycheck.
I do think that management (especially at a fine dining establishment like the one in the video) needs to provide for their employees, though. The working conditions for these employees were outrageous. I believe it boils down to management holding themselves accountable for the working conditions of their employees, the same way the employees hold themselves accountable for a guest's experience.
After watching this video I was not surprised by "what happens" in the back of the house. Being an aspiring manager one day, (whether it's in a restaurant or hotel) this clip made me upset. I believe many of the problems that were shown in the video are a reflection of management's inability to solve them. Taking tips from servers is simply not right. I've worked in a restaurant in the past where the managers collected all the tips at the end of the night and distributed them out the next day. They counted them behind closed doors and there was't a way of showing the staff how the distribution was sorted. So I can see where these problems can occur. As a result many servers didn't last more than a few months.
ReplyDeleteThe video also revealed two incidents where employees had no room for advancement. This could absolutely lead to unmotivated workers, turnover and dissatisfied customers. Recording all hours an employee works and sending an employee home who is sick seems like common sense. The message of this video was to show the audience that not every organization runs the way it "should" be ran. Having managers that create a good working environment and do things ethically can result in employee satisfaction and a better experience for the customer.
We will soon be in management positions. It is important that we enforce fair labor practices. We will be in positions to change grievances like the ones in this video. We must use our power responsibly and help those less fortunate than ourselves. When I become a manager, I will make sure those under me are treated with respect. I will encourage them to come to me with any problem and behave within the law and in an ethical manner. It is our duty as the next generation to change the industry for the better.
DeleteWith the spectacular wealth of this nation, it is appalling that some live in such disparity. The top 1% controls 90% of this country’s wealth. There will never be change as long as the elite control the government. The modern day aristocracy is stronger more powerful than it has ever been. However, instead of publicly displaying their wealth and dominance, they choose to hide behind a façade of democracy. The elite fuels the apathy and incompetence and they cleverly distract the general population with hot button issues. Meanwhile, they slowly but surely erode your civil rights.
ReplyDeleteChange, or even revolution is necessary to combat this country’s gradual decline into a police state. Every American has the right to work and receive a living wage. Undocumented workers should not be afraid to voice transgressions. Instead hardworking people who wish to find opportunity in America should be allowed to do so. They should become citizens and start paying taxes, which this indebted government so desperately needs and will no doubt immediately waste. Fair management, fair labor, and a complete overhaul of the loophole tax system in the US would be a good start.
This video was not what I was expecting when I pushed play. It is so hard to believe that these things are happening behind the scenes. Being in the industry it makes me feel ashamed that other colleagues in the field are treating their employees the way they do. I have never worked in an establishment where that has been the case, so it is hard for me to imagine. I also never would have thought that when I go to a high end restaurant, the servers are working in such awful conditions. You expect when you go somewhere high end, that the workers are taken care of and the environment you are dining in and the environment the employees are working in would be the same, high end. My other question is if people know this is happening, why has no one done anything about it? The video currently has 237,970 views and has been posted since May 4th of 2012. How is it that not one of those 237,970 people have the authority, will power, or urge to do something about this situation, or at least tell someone who might. This not only taints the way people will view our industry, but also the country as a whole.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is tragic to watch this video, this is not something that happens at every restaurant. This restaurant clearly has problems and has ineffective managers and owners that only care about the bottom line. The owners only want to see their profit increase and will cut costs in any way possible. That includes no benefits for hard workers, lowest possible wages possible, forcing people to work more than they should, no chances for promotion, and several other ways. One important fact to point out is that although many workers only make $2.13 per hour, their tips put them over the minimum wage. I definitely do not agree with the way this restaurant is being run, but I feel the author over emphasized many points and failed to say that this does not occur at all restaurants.
ReplyDeleteThis video may simulate the combination of some extremely awful conditions in a restaurant here and there, but it feels a bit propagandistic. Clearly, this is a trailer for a film idea, and is full of actors, but I get the point. The video did lead my mind to thinking about the poor condition America has found itself, though. It truly doesn't feel ethical to pay service industry workers so damn low, having them rely on customer's not-required tipping. Working in the bar myself, I don't typically complain about being paid $2.80, because on an average day, I make the equivalent to about $15 an hour via tips. But, in Europe and other places, servers are paid a base wage, and don't expect tips. It is an interesting dynamic. For such a 'developed' country as America, there sure are some rotten practices. Hmmm..
ReplyDeleteLis Wert
I couldn't agree with you more. People in the US try and make it a living and reason they work more then one job. I think the film was blown out of portion but it does get you thinking if this actually does happen where you eat?
DeleteThis video just opened a whole new perspective for me. I work in a restaurant/kitchen and I see none of that going on. I feel like I was under a rock. In this video everything was just not right and it makes me think if this goes on in restaurants I eat at. 2.13 is just no money at all. I get paid 5.25 plus tips and I still think that is very low for the amount of hours we put in as servers and so on. The united states just does't get that people make a career out of it. Without these people these businesses would not exist. But also in this video it takes it to an extreme where many companies can get shut down for such violations. I just think yes these people are really under paid but conditions are very slim like this with health inspections happening all the time.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is close to my heart. When I watched this video, I was not surprised by anything that the author detailed about each employee. I have worked in the restaurant industry since I was 16 and unfortunately, this is the nature of the beast. There will always be that "mom and pop" restaurant who tries to cut corners by allowing poor working conditions and paying employees less than minimum wage. Corporate restaurants do a much butter job of handling situations such as sexual harassment, poor working conditions and more. Restaurant guests need to understand what is happening behind closed doors when they visit a restaurant. It is infuriating as a server when the guest thinks that you are their "servent" and waves you down to come help them. I think a book like the video would help the restaurant industry. Maybe not the owners, but the employees.
ReplyDeleteI felt that the video was very realistic. Restaurants can clearly work their line level employees very hard and to their breaking point. A number of employees are unhealthy, unable to see a doctor and get health insurance. They must come to work ill because they cant afford to loose hours. I feel that sometimes a non-tipping policies would be a more acceptable way of paying servers, food runners, and bussers. This way they have a steady income and could be able to feed their families and obtain health insurance. As for having ability to move up within the company, I feel that many restaurants to have that option for employees. It seemed like no one in the video had it available to them, which seemed very unfortunate. I thought the title "Behind the Kitchen Door" is a very effective name for this documentary. It can really open your eyes to just how difficult the restaurant industry is.
ReplyDeleteI think this video is very impacting. Although it may not be the case in every restaurant these working conditions come to no surprise to me as someone who has been working in restaurant for 5 years. Even with the knowledge of what goes on "behind the scenes" ,I will admit when I'm the customer I'm more interested in the service, food and overall experience of my dining. This s is often the case of with diners, thus this video may seem appalling to them. I think many people are under the impression that waitressing, bartending etc. is "easy" money and a good way to support yourself. I don't think their aware how little they really are getting paid for how hard they work without tips and their inability to afford needed things such as health insurance. Also, I think this is why many employees try to work for larger companies such as Darden. These companies have effective management programs and offer benefits to employees that other restaurants may not.. By ensuring a property will have a well-trained, knowledgeable manager, the working conditions can be improved. An effective manager can only change so much though. I believe it will be a long time until the service industry conditions and pay are improved.
ReplyDeleteThis topic was not something that I was expecting to watch when I opened this video clip. However, I am not surprised by all of these situations that happens at the back of the house even though I have never worked in a restaurant before. I do believe some of the job within our industry may not require too much professional experience and higher educational background rather than real world experience, but this cannot become the reason that managers or owners are not treating them the way they customers, and good servers can be valuable asset for restaurants. At the same time, one of the most important issues that I found is absolutely unacceptable is chef had to handle food even though he was sick. It is irresponsible for both the employee and customers.
ReplyDeleteTo sum up, it is very important for operations to be ethical responsible for their employees.
This video changed the way I think about dining at a restaurant now. It shocked me to see that so many employees are underpaid or are having certain issues that are not dealt with. It upsets me to see that there are so many problems with the restaurant industry. I've worked in a restaurant before but I've never heard of problems like these before. Many of these employees might not be trained professionally or educated so they might not know how to deal with certain problems. But that is where the managers come in and assist them with their problems. Diners usually don't see the back of the restaurant and the conditions that people are working in. I'm sure many restaurants are not like this and have a great management staff and system. However, what I saw in this video is not acceptable. The guy who is working 65 hours a week and is only getting paid for 40 hours should do something about it. He needs to be paid for what he is actually working for and it is unfair for him. The pastry chef who was getting sexually harassed needs to speak out too. Whoever is harassing her at work needs to be dealt with and she could sue that person. Also, the chef who was working when he was sick definitely violates many health codes. He worked when he had the flu and it could get a customer very sick if things weren't handled right. He should not be working there when he is sick in the first place. The management team at the restaurant is responsible for all this mess and with a good operations and management team, none of this would happen. Employees would be paid properly, sexual harassment would not occur, and no one sick would be cooking.
ReplyDeleteThis video is extremely shocking. It definitely makes you think more about the employees when you are going to eat somewhere, and really links with the saying "you can never judge a book by its cover". As a guest at this restaurant, the decor and interior give off a feeling of elegance and class. The worst part from me was the man who was working for 65 hours and not getting paid for all of his hard work. This is something that happens many times in businesses when they are paid on salary, but when people are working hourly and for tips, it takes it to a whole other level. This restaurants management needs to really make a stronger connection with its employees and start treating them fairly. For the employees they should be able to feel that they can speak with management about their situations, and if they are not being treated fairly there is something they should be able to do about it.
ReplyDeleteThis video is crazy, although being in the foodservice industry for ten years, I completely believe it. The employees are often mistreated by management, especially when they are on salary. I often find that the more high class a restaurant appears the worse they treat their employees, this of course is a generalization. If you never worked in a restaurant before, It is nearly impossible to assume the working conditions in the back of the house. I have burns covering my forearms.
ReplyDeleteThis video was eye-opening. The condition in which so many employees are working is shocking. It is sad to think that there are people who are working more hours than they are paid, and even have to go into work when they are sick because they can't afford to see a doctor. As others have mentioned it is very important for management to be approachable and for them to create a pleasant environment in which employees feel motivated, and don't feel as though they are being taken for granted. Earlier in the semester we discussed tipping policies. This video really puts things into perspective. Working in a restaurant is very hard, and a lot of workers aren't being compensated for what they do. In a way customers pay for service as well as food, but It should not be up to the customer to basically make up for the difference of what employees aren't getting paid in tips, especially if they are doing this based on their own judgement of how they thought the service was. It is hard for employees to stay motivated, and offer excellent service when they are working in such a hectic environment and don't feel as though they are being compensated.
ReplyDeleteWow I can't believe this video, it insane how many people 1.don't speak up and 2. don't think that there is a way out or that this is normal. People work in hard conditions with the hope of promotions and change and a lot of that doesn't happen. People don't see that, what people see is employees striving and working hard and believe that they are getting rewarded as they should.
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