sigdiamond2000: That said, this headline makes no sense. Why would restaurant workers spit in customers' meals if it's ownership that's treating them like sh*t?

When your word conditions are hellish, you tend to vent your frustration anyway you can.

Many other businesses could stand to take a tip from this as well.

Seeing a manager chew out an employee over missing out on some small detail is a shiatload more unprofessional then anything a waitress/waiter has ever done to me.

almandot: Many other businesses could stand to take a tip from this as well.


Oh come one. Just think of how good that short term bottom line looks once you elimintate the expenses of having employees and customers.

More investment in workers could end up saving the restaurant industry millions of dollars, according to the study. More interested and productive workers would help draw more revenue to offset the higher initial labor costs, researchers said.

Well, here's a suggestion: take some of your research grant money and open a restaurant. Put those theories into practice and let's see how you do.

/Not holding my breath

As for the Cream of Mushroom Soup.... Don't ask...

I feel bad for servers who obviously have been given a "script" by their manager or the chain. It's a negative that can really diminish an overall pleasant dining experience.

And why do I find it hard to believe that your "upsell" is more profitable than just being real?

padraig: When your word conditions are hellish, you tend to vent your frustration anyway you can.

Maybe you do, but not everyone does. I never took my frustrations out on anyone who I didn't think was responsible. Customers are not responsible for how owners and managers treat those under them. They're just there to eat; they may or may not know or understand what goes on in the place, but they're not there to maliciously bankroll poor treatment of workers.

Jonathan Hohensee: Seeing a manager chew out an employee over missing out on some small detail is a shiatload more unprofessional then anything a waitress/waiter has ever done to me.

If a customer ever witnesses any act of discipline that's not directly related to them -- which would pretty much be limited to apologising to the customer -- then something unprofessional has occurred.