Applebee's official reply

[sarisataka]

Our Guests’ personal information – including their meal check – is private, and neither Applebee’s nor its franchisees have a right to share this information publicly. We value our Guests’ trust above all else. Our franchisee has apologized to the Guest and has taken disciplinary action with the Team Member for violating their Guest’s right to privacy. This individual is no longer employed by the franchisee.

http://applebees.mwnewsroom.com/Home/Applebee-s-Statement

and may they rot in hell- or have to eat their own food

[Robb]

1. See also: tone deaf.

This is going to be a lesson on the importance of listening to your PR people -- who, I assume, are pulling their hair out at corporate's decision to ignore their advice.

I assume this, because this is such basic stuff even a public relations beginner understands how it works.

This ain't gonna help.

[abelenkpe]

2. Um this just makes it worse nt

[Bryn]

3. "Boycott Applebees for Chelsea Welch" on fb

"Boycott Applebees for Chelsea Welch"

https://www.facebook.com/BoycottApplebeesUntilChelseaWelchIsRehired

[obamanut2012]

4. Ugh -- tone deaf

They could have mentioned the privacy part, but also said something about making sure their employees are treated right by patrons and get the tips they are due. They could even have said the young woman has been disciplined and counseled, and has been reemployed on a probationary status or something (if she wanted to work there again).

This really just makes it worse.

[FBaggins]

59. as I understand it... The fired server is not the one who was shorted

It's possible for there to be two bad guys in the story.

[obamanut2012]

76. If that is true, it doesn't change what I said

It works in that situation, too.

[Renew Deal]

5. The person will find a better job somewhere else

No doubt

[Demo_Chris]

49. Why so confident? ANY job these days is a good job.

People are fighting for work at McDonald's. This girl might have now lost her house, her car, everything. That's the new America -- you bow to the ones with money or risk starvation.

[SoCalNative]

51. And the saddest thing is

that McDonalds employees actually make more than most waiters and waitresses, since they get paid full minimum wage.

[cbdo2007]

115. I doubt any restaurant would want her taking pictures of their customer's receipts.

This could really hurt her job prospects in the restaurant industry actually.

[RKP5637]

6. Mental note - Never eat at Applebees, even if one day I forget why not. n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

67. I do that all the time.....

I don't remember the reason why I will not do business with a company, but my mind is good enough to remember that it meant something at one time. I still remember that there was some problem with Burger King in the 80's.....don't know what it was, but I haven't been there since.

[Iggo]

116. Yep. Done with Applebees.

[grilled onions]

7. sooo reward the one who stiffs the waitstaff...

and apologize the arrogant swine who wants to get his fill but does not care if the worker has enough at the end of the day to feed the family! Another place on the Do Not Visit--Ever.

[pennylane100]

8. I just posted this comment on Huffington Post and got a few "faves"

Applebee's seems unable to stop giving us reasons to boycott them. They have all the logic of a circular firing squad. However, if you are OK with them firing this waitress and you did not take offense at the anti Obamacare rant, you still have to deal with the fact that their food is really not very good. So for all those that still go there, "Bon Appetit"

[Blue Owl]

9. What's good for the shitty guest is good for the franchise

Let's see how that business model plays out.

[noamnety]

10. Eek, I actually agree with applebee's on that.

1. Their food is crappy.
2. The pastor's a cheap pig.
3. I don't think it's appropriate for restaurant employees or employees of any other business to publish customer's receipts without their knowledge or permission.

I don't feel sorry for the pastor at all, mind you - karma gave what they deserved.

But I am not comfortable with employees thinking it's their right to publish that stuff. I don't want my stores publishing all my receipts any more than I'd want them recording then publishing my telephone calls to customer service.

[OldDem2012]

13. Just curious, but do you write personally insulting remarks on your receipts? nt.

[noamnety]

14. Nope. (nt)

[demwing]

37. The staff that posted the pic could have protected Applebees

blurred out any identifying info, and left the snarky message, right?

[OldDem2012]

43. Agreed. But Applebee's still has the original receipt, do they not? nt.

[demwing]

97. not sure how that's relevant

But yeah, you're correct

[Mariana]

72. She could have.

But, when this story first came out, a lot of people didn't believe it. To be fair, it's mindboggling that anyone could be as stupid as this dumbass pastor, to stiff the server, AND write her such a snotty message, AND sign the slip as "Pastor" Cleo Bell.

[demwing]

96. Don't get me wrng, my heart is with the staffer

not this vain, egotistical so called servant of God.

[2naSalit]

25. It would appear that

once a personal note was written to the waitperson, it became a personal item. Since the note was written to her specifically, it would seem that she has the right to publish it if she felt inclined, especially the nature of the note.

Once upon a time I had a spouse who said a few very poignant things, one of which was, "...if people were held responsible for their actions with their lives, there would be a hell of a lot more people acting responsibly."

Doesn't matter what the offender does for a living, though in this case it would imply a particularly egregious hypocrisy, what they did was offensive and they thought that they would get away with it... only they were called out on it and so they decided to be even more nasty.

[noamnety]

31. That's why I brought up karma.

I have no sympathy for the pastor, her actions came back to bite her in the ass.

But as a corporate policy, I expect receipts to belong to the business; they aren't the employees' personal property, not if someone writes a nice "thanks" on them or a shitty note.

I know a lot of people who have problems with store loyalty cards because they track our purchases and are considered a privacy invasion. Those aren't even being published to the world at large.

I'm just saying I wouldn't be okay with a store publishing everything that I bought there, and as a corporate policy, I do support enforcing privacy concerns for the customers, possibly even to the point of zero tolerance for violations.

[TreasonousBastard]

42. Me too. Regardless of how bad things were...

the server still had no right to publish the ticket.

But, having no actual responsibility for anything involving this story, or even knowing the whole story, the vengeance brigade here will happily jump to conclusions and talk of crucifying the preacher, Applebees, and anyone else who gets in the way.

[Demo_Chris]

53. Count me among the "vengeance brigade" you mention. Applebees is now boycotted by me

And if I knew of some way to get back at this pastor I would cheerfully do that as well.

This waitress took a bad situtation -- working without pay -- and decided to make light of it. And for this she lost her job.

[TreasonousBastard]

68. No doubt they are shaking in their undercooked boots, whoever you are...

but the point is that thing your mother told you years ago-- two wrongs don't make a right.

[DaveJ]

44. Similar to when convenient stores post bounced check on the wall.

I know it's weird and extreme to post the receipt, but firing someone is a serious act as well. (albeit this was a crappy job so nobody really cares) Everyone in this situation was in the wrong, most wrong, imo, was 1st the customer, 2nd applebees, 3rd the waitress.. Applebees had the opportunity to show some class and look at the particulars of the situation. But as someone said earlier, they instead proved they are tone deaf.

[Gore1FL]

89. Edited--I stand corrected

Original Post:

I saw nothing personal but hand-writng in the picture.


What am I missing that makes this identifiable?

Corrected Follow Up.

I found this:

As posted originally on Reddit’s Atheist page, the image contained the customer’s full signature. Chelsea says she didn’t think to edit that out because she had assumed the name was illegible.
Here:
http://consumerist.com/2013/01/31/waitress-who-posted-no-tip-receipt-from-pastor-customer-fired-from-job/

You are correct. I agree with you.

[joeybee12]

11. There a link to contact them...I did...the fuckers...nt

[Johonny]

12. so if you're planning a mass murder make sure to write your plans on Applebee checks

they won't share that information with anyone and will fire the person that rats you plan out for you.

[tularetom]

17. I sort of resent anybody calculating my tip for me

I generally tip 20% unless the service is really crappy. But I want it to be my choice not the restaurants.

That being said, this is what you might expect from a ptomaine palace like Applebee's. They might gain a few republican customers for firing their server, but overall it's going to hurt them, maybe more than the fact that they serve shitty meals.

[niyad]

26. they have a policy of an automatic gratuity for parties of eight or more, which this one was.

I believe it was 8 adults and 5 children (I know, surprise, considering the bill)

[obamanut2012]

35. The $34 check was just for two people

They checks were separated, which is a huge pain for wait staff to do.

[tularetom]

47. Let me get this straight

They have a policy of automatically applying an 18% tip for "large parties".

There was a large party in this case but the pastor (or someone else in the party) requested separate checks.

Apparently the 18% automatic tip policy was applied to the individual checks. At least it was applied to the pastor's check.

It would seem to me that if the bill is broken down into separate checks then the 18% rule should not apply. And therefore it appears that if anybody screwed up here it was Applebee's. And the pastor was an asshole for her cute little remark.

The one person who was blameless in the entire affair was the server. Of course she was the victim in the little episode.

[Gormy Cuss]

57. The reason for the tip is that large tables take a disproportionate amount of time to serve

and as noted above, separate checks for a large table like that is one of the pain-in-the-neck reasons that it's harder to serve large groups.

Applebee's claims that the large table gratuity policy is posted prominently on the menu. If that's true the patrons agreed to the policy when they stayed and placed the order.

eta: I don't like automatic gratuities either but if it's restaurant policy then my choices are to pay it or not dine there.

[rhett o rick]

61. When I am in a large group and get good service, I tip the wait-staff in addition to the

18%, but I do it in cash.

[niyad]

62. I have eaten at applebee's in the past, and I did see notices about the automatic gratuities.

this has been true at just about every restaurant in which I have eaten, so it should come as no surprise to someone who eats out after each week's service (as another article stated)

[glowing]

118. No, this is not how it works, its who is sitting around the table.

Where I worked its been parties of 6 or more in the party, and a gratuity of 18% is automatically placed on a bill. A large table often takes multiple hands and multiple trips back and forth. It doesn't matter if the bill is split up by different pay methods later on (its a pain in the ass that way, but it is done often, if you and a bunch of friends get together for a large dinner party out, couples normally take seperate checks). You wouldn't believe how many people who claim they would tip better than the 18% on the check, actually wouldn't really tip all that much. My husband tends to be the cheaper one, even though he is a supervisor in a restraunt. Perhaps because he's making a real paycheck/ hr and not relying on tips? He really goes for the ole' 15-18% when we are out. I always round up to 20% and if its excellent service, 25%-- I even give the carry out people a couple of bucks so they are good to me everytime I show up for an order (or sneak an free dessert in). I actually think the automatic gratuity should be adjusted to 20%, everything on the menu is more expensive, why shouldn't the staff be able to get a bit of a pay increase for the increased costs everywhere we turn.

[BeeBee]

36. They said it was a large group, but the waitperson split the bill...hence the small amount. n/t

[Johonny]

29. I think as a general rule of any ethics course I have ever taken is

do not act in a way that if it became public would embarrass yourself or your company.

I this way the staffs actions do not seem to embarrass the company at all and certainly don't embarrass the waiter personally. Where clearly the costumer wrote a message that they are clearly embarrassed about. Thus in the realm of ethics this is not a hard one to figure out who behaved less than ethically.

As for recommending tips... not every American is great at math. Although in general I've seen restaurants give tip ranges. 10 % 15% 18 % instead of just a flat 18% Although for big parties I have seen this flat amount. Once again this is an Applebee's thing. Really good places often do this. As more than one person has pointed out the best way to solve all this is to just freaking pay food industry workers a real salary and stop low balling them and forcing the variability of tips to cover the difference.

[obamanut2012]

32. Then don't be part of a huge party

[atreides1]

33. If you're referring to the 18% tip

Most restaurants have a policy in place that charges a gratuity for large groups...that's what the 18% was for.

[a2liberal]

71. I'm with you (kind of)

I don't mind calculations, but an automatic gratuity will definitely make me tip less than I normally would (which is generally more than the automatic).

[antigone382]

127. I was once trained by an excellent waitress who got stiffed by a 20-top.

(20 being the number of people seated at the table). I know for a fact she provided them with stellar service--there is a reason she was training me. It was two or three hours worth of work; without a tip, she made somewhere between $5.00 and $7.50 for that work. If there had been an automatic gratuity, that would not have been the case.

[a2liberal]

134. Umm, ok?

Doesn't change my feelings about the practice. Force me to tip (hence making it not a tip but a service charge) and I'm going to feel less generous.

It would help though if we could find a way to make the "top-up" minimum wage laws actually be enforced without servers having to risk getting fired for enforcing their rights...

[antigone382]

136. The automatic gratuity is almost only used when there are large parties.

It sucks for you that you are forced to tip, but it's a protection against the many, many who don't.

And you're right, it would be nice if we could advocate for our rights without fear of getting fired. At the same time, I feel that waitress deserved more than minimum wage for her service to that table.

[politicaljunkie41910]

15. If I were Applebee's, I would not have let this 'pastor' insult my employee.

I would have told him to take his $34 elsewhere. We don't need it that bad. The Customer is king is bullsh!t if they use your services and then insult your staff on issues that are beyond their control. If he was a real man, he would have made his objections known to the manager instead of insulting the server.

[Angry Dragon]

18. The pastor is a woman

[littlewolf]

20. If there is a problem with

waitstaff or the food ... always tell the manager ...
if it is the food the waitstaff can't do anything about it
and if it is the staff ... the manager needs to know ..
good or bad ... infact I will tell the manager about
good waitstaff faster then poor waitstaff ...
tips (To Insure Prompt Service)
if the waitstaff stinks: 10% and I chat with the manager
normal: 15% and I don't say anything to anyone
excellent 20-25% and I chat with the manager.

[niyad]

24. same here

I cannot count the number of times I have asked to speak to a manager at a restaurant or shop, and had that manager be surprised because I was asking to speak so that I could compliment the server or cashier or whatever. guess that does not happen often.

[niyad]

64. welcome to DU--has the weather calmed down there?

[sarisataka]

65. Not often enough

my wife and I do the same. It makes the day for both the server and manager to hear good feedback; it is often remarked how rarely that happens.

[SpartanDem]

16. I'd boycott but I never eat their shitty food

[niyad]

19. so now the idiot "pastor" feels bad, apologized to the now-fired server. wow. . .

doesn't help chelsea get her job back, and the only reason the pastor feels bad is because she looks like an idiot all over the net.

the receipt does not, as far as I can tell, have her credit card number or any identifying information on it, so I don't see what her problem was. she had to know, based on other stories that said that the church group goes out regularly after services, that an automatic gratuity is tacked on for large parties. what a twit. I would almost bet she is a repuke--they only feel bad if they get caught.

[intheflow]

107. Exactly.

It's bullshit of Applebee's to claim this is somehow an infringement of customer confidentiality. There was nothing on the check to identify anyone, unless you count the handwriting. If the pastor didn't like the 18% for large groups, complain to management, get a clue that the waitress has no power or say in how checks are tallied. Also, if you know in advance there's going to be a group gratuity charge and you don't approve of that, go somewhere else. I'm sure there are other restaurants that would love the business without charging a group gratuity. I'm 100% sure this pastor is a repuke - always blaming the least among us - exactly opposite of what Jesus did.

[WolverineDG]

21. Uh I don't know about you

but I kind of like the idea that my meal check, including my credit card information, is considered private, personal information & not to spread around on the internet. So, yeah, an apology for that is in order.

I sympathize with the server, having worked in restaurants in high school & college.

The pastor is still an asshat for zeroing out the tip & leaving that message.

[sarisataka]

39. I agree to a point

the waitress should have made sure the customer's info was edited out.

Yet as the whole situation has become public, their doubling down on the side of an unnecessarily rude customer shows their colors; which we already knew.

For said "pastor" to be upset and call for a range of people to be fired over her rudeness, I think she needs to read her book a little closer.

Discipline the employee- sure. Throw her to wolves because a person who thought they could privately humiliate a person is upset her very un-Christian 'laspe in judgement' went public is too much. Applebee's is just shitting on the person on the bottom of the totem pole and praying this will all blow over.

Maybe the pastor can join them in prayer as hopefully their restaurants will soon have many empty seats.

My plan is to go to my local Applebee's tomorrow, give every server a tip, even if all I can afford is $2 and personally tell the manager why I will never visit their establishment. Their corporate greed and poor treatment of their employees is disgusting.

[intheflow]

110. There was nothing in the original reddit post that identified anyone.

No credit card info, the signature was cropped out of the photo. Here's the original post:

http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/17i382/my_mistake_sir_im_sure_jesus_will_pay_for_my_rent/

I agree that posting personal info about customers should be against company policy and a reason for employee dismissal. However, that's just not relevant in this particular case since no personal information was shared.

[WolverineDG]

111. The name was in the photos I saw

So that was leaked out. While it's unfortunate the restaurant didn't stand up for its auto-gratuity policy, I'm glad they keep their customers' information private .

[intheflow]

112. Never mind.

I first replied here "The post from the waitress herself. If you have a link to the photo you saw I'd like to see it. She may have edited it - I'm late to this discussion - but AFAICS the photo is completely anonymous."

But I've found the original photo. You're right - the customer's name was on it. My apologies for having doubted you. At least we both agree the pastor is an idiot.

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. "Team Member"

Fuck you, management.

[Mr.Bill]

23. Applebee's exists

so people on cruise ships will think the food is great.

[littlewolf]

34. ?? not sure what you mean

the 3 cruises I have been on the food has
been very good.

[Mr.Bill]

45. It's a matter of opinion,

But cruises I've been on in the last ten years the food was Ok, but not great. Thirty years ago, it was incredible.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed yours.

[bigapple1963]

28. I agree with Applebee

Two rights don't make a wrong.

Would it have been wrong to post a customer's receipt online if there was nothing written on it and there was no dispute over the tip?

If so, how does what the customer wrote make it "right" to post it online?

[OldDem2012]

41. I bet a good lawyer could make the case that this was a personal note to the server....

....and therefore the note itself became the personal property of that employee which can be disposed of anyway that the employee wishes. Additionally, it appears that what was posted online was a digital copy of the receipt....Applebee's still retains the physical original receipt in their possession.

Had there been no comment on the receipt, why would anyone have posted it to the Net?

[noamnety]

48. I disagree.

I don't believe a lawyer could successfully argue that the business receipt was no longer the business's property.

I also don't believe they would win a case stating that the employee owns rights to publish the company's receipts.

[bigapple1963]

54. i'm happy to take that bet n/t

[OldDem2012]

30. My note to Applebee's....

"This message is in regards to the recent incident in which one of your servers posted a receipt to the Internet which contained a rather insulting comment from the customer to the server, "I give God 10%, why should you get 18". I note with sadness that you fired your employee for violating your customer privacy policy, but you have made no public statement about the customer who wrote the comment. Do you intend to continue serving this individual despite the fact that she treated one of your employees badly for no apparent reason? Do you condone that kind of behavior by your customers? If so, why should anyone continue to work for your organization?"

[BlancheSplanchnik]

79. good letter

Points out the amoral nature of business.

Similar to the amoral pseudo equality of ideas awarded to every piece of rhetoric in the "news".

Tone deafness is co-morbid with lack of conscience, ugly self-righteousness, profit above all, narcissism and repukianism in general.

[patrice]

38. Let's guess what would have happened if Chelsea had shared a more flattering customer message. nt

[LisaL]

40. Employees shouldn't be posting checks. Whether something is written on them or not.

[longship]

46. Mislabeled... It's Applebee's equivocation. nt

[dgibby]

50. Applebees' FB page

is full of negative comments. I just left one for them, too.

[WCGreen]

52. Once I got passed 40, my taste for all that "fun" place food is just withered away...

We went a couple of years ago because it was the last thing open, but I would rather get food from an all night grocery and warm t up at hoe nested of eating that crap.

I guess Cheesecake Factory soured me on all the lesser chains.

[A HERETIC I AM]

63. Couldn't agree more. I'll never eat at another Applebee's. Ever. They suck. n/t

[white_wolf]

77. Cheescake Factory is amazing. I wish we had one here.

[WCGreen]

88. They came to Westlake about 5 years ago and I have been very happy with their food...

I think I have eaten there over 40 or 50 times and only once was I slightly disappointed.

We go late and get gift cards from the Grocery Store and then get ten cents off a gallon of gas.

I always kid the wait staff with your food gives me gas.

[lpbk2713]

55. Sounds like an after the fact exercise in cya rationale to me.

"Hmmm. Let's see ... how are we gonna spin this? "


And it falls well short of the mark.

If I recall correctly, it was a co-worker who took the pic of the receipt
and posted it on the net, not the terminated employee.

[Pryderi]

56. Does Applebees drug test its employees? So much for privacy n/t

[DireStrike]

60. Applebees is correct, though firing her was probably too far.

If the waitress wanted to post the receipt she should have blocked the person's name.


3...2...1... predictable kneejerk counterargument incoming... posting counter-counterargument...

yes, the pastor was also wrong and an asshole. No, that does not mean it's right to let your employees do whatever they want with the information collected by the company.

[MadrasT]

85. I agree with you. n/t

[Demo_Chris]

66. They fired the waitress, I am firing them.

I also took the time to write to them and tell them why I am boycotting them.

[niyad]

69. according to other stories, there is actually no such policy in the applebee employee handbook.

and, at least in the pic I saw, there was no customer information--a merchant id number and the total, and the idiot comment from the "pastor" of this 15- member church (hey, smaller even than westboro)

[noamnety]

98. Does that really need to be addressed in a handbook?

Don't publish customer receipts seems like a nobrainer to me.

They probably also don't have a line in their handbook saying "don't secretly take photos of customers and publish them without their permission." But I would expect an employee to get fired if they did that. Even if the customer was being a complete ass.

[niyad]

108. so you have no problem with firing somebody for violating a policy that wasn't an actual stated

policy, is that correct? do you not see what sort of problems that sort of thinking can lead?

[noamnety]

117. i support the firing.

I consider it such a basic foundation of privacy and common sense that employees don't publish customer receipts that if an employee couldn't figure out on their own that it's unethical, they aren't competent enough to work for me.

[niyad]

119. of course, because this situation has arisen so often in the past. apart from the customer's

very sloppy, nearly illegible signature, there was no personal information, no credit card number.

but you go right ahead and support them. as a matter of curiosity, in what field do you employ people?

[noamnety]

120. actually, there was personal information.

There was a signature tying a person to a particular location at a particular time.

It's possible that some of their customers don't want to publish that they were there on a particular day or night.

I'm surprised DUers support more invasions of privacy. My impression a few years back was that people had problems with things like the car trackers being installed in leased cars without the driver's knowledge, or cell phones tracking (and publishing?) your location without your consent or knowledge. Or students having to wear tracking ID cards. Or stores selling your information, including your purchasing history, without your knowledge.

We shouldn't have become a society where the left is outraged that people expect a basic level of privacy.

I'm shocked that people here think corporations SHOULD allow their employees to publish their signature and whereabouts without their consent.

[Zoeisright]

70. Fuck Applebees.

I have never eaten there and never will.

[smirkymonkey]

106. +1000

[RedCappedBandit]

73. Fuck 'em

They may have a point regarding the personal information of their customers, but the fact that they failed in any way to address the root issue disgusts me.

Almost as much as their food disgusts me.

That's saying a lot.

[tosh]

74. Fine - your food sucks anyway.

Team Member my ass.

[SCVDem]

75. The point is

They are fucking with employees over a couple of bucks.

Wouldn't restaraunts be better served by picking up the slack?

After all, management is not the face of a company.

How many of us have been waited on by a pissed off server?

[YOHABLO]

78. The customer is always right .. even if they're a cheap fucking bastard religious freak.

[uponit7771]

80. Applebees loses me as a customer over this for a while, this is tin ear response to the nth degree

[3c273a]

81. Went to add Applebees to my boycot list. Realized its already there. n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

113. You have a boycott list?

Now THAT's organization!

I'm in awe.

[graham4anything]

82. Hate to say this, but-Isn't a boycott protest spitting in the wrong people's faces?

Let's look at this calmly and without the mob justice for a second
Let's say everybody boycotts & stops going to Applebee's nationwide.
Applebee's go out business

There are probably 50,000 to 100,000 REGULAR people working at Applebee's nationwide, who knows

So now there are 100,000 people unemployed because of another
BURN THEM DOWN without thinking about the day after


Wouldn't a different type of protest be better?

How about everyone go to Applebee's AND DON'T ORDER a dessert or an appetizer or something from the bar(in those that have bars).

SO let's say your normal per person bill is $25.00 and you would tip 5 bucks
Why not have the bill be $15 and tip 15 bucks directly to the server in cash
either way you are paying $30.00. But this way the server gets 10 bucks extra.
And Applebee's themselves loses $10 bucks a person.
Then tell people online that you did it, and post your own receipts.(with confidential info crossed out of course).


better yet

The Priest and the Waitress and an Applebees representative should go to the White House and have a sit down and thrash things out with President Obama.

but let's not put all the workers out on the streets by a mob like boycott vengence when there are better ways to directly make a point to Applebee's with.

[Demo_Chris]

83. Nope. Even in this thread, on DU no less, a good number of people blame the waitress

So I really don't think Applebees is in any danger of going out of business.

In any case, it's my money and I prefer not to spend it with them any longer. They want to treat their employees like trash, they can survive or fail without my money.

[Skip Intro]

90. I assume if successful, other businesses would need new employees.

Due to increased business.

Same number of people eating, same number required to serve them?

[graham4anything]

91. Where? Unless they built new restaurants, there is a finite # needed.

It would create longer lines, but Outback or Chili's only has a set # of seats,
so it would not mean twice the space in those players.

[Skip Intro]

92. I'm pretty sure demand would be met.

If there's a dollar to be made in this country, somebody's going to make it.

[graham4anything]

94. every restaurant in our area has long waits, might not be the case elsewhere, but

cut applebee's out in our area, and the waits would be another 30 minutes per place
with no viable alternative

again unless a new restaurant would open, (and it would take months), no, there is not an immediate place.

2 don't work 1 job.
If one has 100 seats and X number of servers, having 300 people waiting on line does not create another need for a new server

it's another case of burning it down, without thinking of the morning after.
sounds good, but in reality, it only hurts the regular worker.

[Skip Intro]

95. sorry, I don't agree with your premise

I've never seen a restaurant district with each business dealing with lines out the door. Not questioning your report of where you live, but I doubt the restaurant industry couldn't handle the closure of one chain, which of course won't happen anyway with the issue at hand.

Restaurants come and go all the time, as do other businesses. Life goes on.

[noamnety]

99. I think you're wrong here.

If they all went bankrupt (which won't happen, but since you toss it out as a hypothetical) that would leave a bunch of empty restaurant buildings to be bought by someone else, hopefully local businesses that would better support local employees and communities. If there's a vacant restaurant and loads of demand for eating out that isn't currently being met, someone will open a new restaurant in that space.

[graham4anything]

100. but it would take 6 months to a year before it happened

and it would be nationwide

all those regular people would be out of a job for a year

YES, they would all theoretically be rehired and all a year later, but what would they do for that year.

Also, it doesn't necessarily hold that the owner of the land would rent it/lease it for the same price.
So it is possible the land would wait til someone paid a much higher rent
(though this would apply more in NY than NJ if we are talking theoreticals.

Just for the record-
I myself am not a big fan of theirs.It's another place I never pick, but if someone else is either treating, or a group of us go and someone else is making the pick will go there.

the old you get what you pay for and value wise they are not a good value.
So it is not that I am protecting them or anything.

One thing about alot of the chains(unlike the mom and pop places I would rather go)
but these chains have the original seater, then the original server, however, three other people bring you the different courses, and then the original server gets refills if anyone wants them, and hands the bill.

I prefer the older one server for the entire meal way. That way if you ask for say a condiment that same person would bring it back,
whereas if you ask one of the others, most times they forget to tell the orignal server,
and you never get it.
That way is also less personal and more assembly line.(but then chains are like that anyhow.)

Rather go to a place, request a certain server, and over time, that person ahead of time knows what drinks, what extras, etc. And those type places we always leave the biggest tip anyhow. Advantage all around.

This story though is one of those where
"the customer is always right" is cloudy.
What is right here?
I think the manager should have been called, and the argument been between management and this person.
And possibly the manager should have comped the meal, but not the gratuity.

The original "crime" had nothing to do with the server.
As it was not in her hands at all.

[panzerfaust]

122. Boycott Christianity Instead.

It's what I do.

[Smilo]

84. Silly Applebees by doing

what they did - they not only outed themselves, but the stupid, cheapskate Pastor.

Are they going to take disciplinary action against everyone who had a hand in the "disciplinary action".

[Faygo Kid]

86. Done.

Not that I was a regular given their unhealthy junk.

[pizzadave]

87. And now...

Big Ed Schultz is running the story!!

[indivisibleman]

93. stopped eating at Applebees a few years ago.

food went downhill.
Then their public attitude toward Obamacare was awful.
Now their treatment of their staff. Why would I want to patronize a place like this?

[Xipe Totec]

101. 30 years, or thereabouts for me

My boycott at this point will be strictly symbolic.

[sad-cafe]

102. Applebees sucks and has for a long time

even before this

[DainBramaged]

103. See also fuck you assholes

It has been SEVEN years this April since I stepped in one of your excessive sodium overpriced shit-holes. And it will have been the last time in my life. Stupid fucks.


Eat locally, if you pass an old fashioned diner, go there.

[stevenleser]

104. I'm going to feature this on my show. My message to them for comment...

I host an online radio show called "Making Sense with Steve Leser". I plan on featuring Applebee's firing of the waitress for posting a guest check featuring a snarky message instead of a tip in the segment of the show called the "Hall of Shame for Making Nonsense".

I read the press statement. I'm willing to include any additional comments that you might want to make.

[niyad]

109. thank you for doing this, steve. please let us know what sort of response you get.

[quinnox]

105. I can't fault applebees

This is the proper decision. The name should have been blocked or edited out of the photo. The waitress should have known there would be consequences for this posting of the receipt with the name showing.

1. That said, it was very rude for the "pastor" to do that stunt, and I have no sympathy for them being exposed for this.

2. All those saying they never liked applebees food and never went there to eat, well, it is a bit of an empty threat to say you are now boycotting them, let's get real.

3. This will not prevent me from going to applebees. I happen to like going there occasionally, and ordering their steaks. Some of us don't have the money to go eat at fancy places that charge high prices, and applebees is inexpensive compared to a lot of other places.

[cbdo2007]

114. Hmmmm, have to agree with Applebee's here.

I really don't like the idea of someone taking a picture of my receipt and posting it on the interwebs.

I do agree with what the waitress did here, but people need to be smart and try to be more anonymous or the important points of the original story are lost when both the guest and now the waitress and now Applebee's become the story - not the horrible message left on the receipt.

[panzerfaust]

121. "Our Guests’ personal information – including their meal check – is private" Only one problem ...

Applebee's has previously, as noted at eater.com, posted receipts on which customers had written praise for Applebee on-line (including the signature). One of these was reportedly on Applebee's FB page - but it vanished as this story unfolded.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/g/500x/

In the end, one is left with the reality that the Christian pastor who wrote this snarky insult, has, like most Christians, not the slightest conception of Christ's teachings, and certainly has no intention of following them.

Not that I am Christian (Heaven forbid!) but if I were, I would live up to His Teachings - apocryphal though they might be.



I would boycott Applebees, but never having set foot in one, this is unlikely to have much effect. Instead, I will simply continue to boycott Christianity - which I see as the true sanctimonious villain in this sad story.

[obamanut2012]

130. Oh ho -- you should make this an OP

She probably could win an unemployment benefits suit against them with this info.

[Skip Intro]

132. You lost me with your, "like most Christians," comment.

Why judge an entire group of people by the actions of a few?

[matt819]

123. Slight variation on the official response

Got this today from Applebee's. In short, fuck off. None of your business.

Thank you for reaching out to us. As a company that relies on literally hundreds of thousands of incredibly hard working team members, I can assure you that we and our franchisees value and support them and their efforts. However this unfortunate situation has nothing to do with work. The employee involved did not wait on the guest or party. Regrettably, and without the restaurant's knowledge, she took it upon herself to take a customer's receipt, with the name clearly visible, and posted it online with her own commentary. That is a clear violation of our guests’ privacy and against the franchisee's company policy that the team member was provided when hired. We simply cannot accept behavior that compromises the safety and privacy our guests have every right to expect and deserve.

Please note that we are also not excusing the guest's behavior in this matter and the unacceptable comment she wrote on the receipt, which is offensive to us and all our hard working team members. To be clear, the 18% gratuity added to large party tickets was paid by the guests party. This is a regrettable situation and we wish it had never happened. I hope this provides you with some additional insight. Thanks again for the chance to explain.

[sarisataka]

126. I saw that today

we are also not excusing the guest's behavior in this matter and the unacceptable comment she wrote on the receipt, which is offensive to us and all our hard working team members.

... but they did apologize to her and fire their employee at her demand

To be clear, the 18% gratuity added to large party tickets was paid by the guests party.

I wonder how much of that 18% goes to the restaurant and how much the employees get to split?

[athena]

135. The 18% was applied, as the pastor should have known it would.

If the 18% service charge for large parties was stated on the menu, then the pastor agreed to pay it when she agreed to eat there. If she didn't like the 18% service charge, she could have left without eating. I'm not at all surprised that the 18% charge was applied to her credit card. The signature simply proves that you are the owner of the credit card. It doesn't give you the right to pay less than the amount of the bill.

Many years ago, I added incorrectly on a restaurant receipt, so that the total was $1 less than the main part plus the tip. How much do you think my card was charged for? Of course, they went with the higher amount after adding the stated tip, not the stated total.

Regardless of whether the waitress was right to post the bill on the internet, I don't think she should have been fired. Firing her just creates a hostile environment: one in which servers fear for their jobs, not one in which they feel they can trust their employer to look out for them. I will never eat at an Applebee's again, and I am sending them a comment saying so here:
http://www.applebees.com/about-us/contact-us
Nothing they say in response will change my opinion about this.

[sarcasmo]

124. Franchise is the key word. Chain restaurants, suck!

[Berlum]

125. Kiss my grits

nt

[appleannie1]

128. The receipt did not show a gratuity being taken out. The total of the meal was $32.00 and some odd

cents.
, tip was shown as 0 and complete total was $32 and some odd cents. So now Applebees is lying.

[obamanut2012]

131. I also noticed that

[Quantess]

129. I check out of DU for 2 weeks and now I don't know

what people are talking about. Bleh!

[0zone]

133. 10% of the pastor's income..

is different than 18% of a small measly meal. It's an apples to oranges comparison.

And I'd never give 10% of my salary to an imaginary god.