http://www.wyff4.com/irresistible/18581983/detail.html#-
Employees in a Pancake House in Michigan chose to work one shift for free in order to give the owner a break. Due to the economy, business had been slow & the employees wanted to show their support for their boss. Would you be willing to work for free??? Or would you think of some other way to honor your boss???
[question posted by LadyMarissa]
responses and comments:
You know...to do that...they must have a GREAT boss. Yea..for someone who appreciates their employees I'd do that sometime. No one would do that for a crappy boss. [Irishfrndly65]
Yep, he must be one helluva boss. You do know how hard it is to get 17 people to do anything at the same time don't you??? I thought it nice of the customers to tip a little heavier that night too!!! [LadyMarissa]
I would be able to do that if he is a good boss and I get to keep my tips that I have made for the day. [patriciaqualls]
In order to get 17 people to go without pay, he must be a dayum good boss. The employees shared the tips & they all got about $51.00. That means the customers left almost $900.00 in tips. Just look at all the FREE publicity the owner is getting too!!! [LadyMarissa]
Yes I would work a shift for free and not complain. Those people are probably just thankful they have a job. [tyc415]
Yeah, but they still must have one helluva boss!!! [LadyMarissa]
That was very nice for the employees to do. I know if I was the boss, I would feel a lot of gratitude. It is also nice to see this act from people in general. They should be commended. [jenseyedea]
Yep, it appears that he didn't ask them to do this. They did it out of love!!! wub wub wub [LadyMarissa]
I am not going to lie unless everyone else was I would most likely not. I mean most people need the money. I know the boss does too but it isn't worth it personally I don't think. [jesse022190]
I would think it would be awfully hard to fire anyone right now!!! [LadyMarissa]
Sure, I would do one hour of volunteer work. One hour isn't much. If the boss is a great guy, that's wonderful and I'd certainly be willing to help. Although, any more than an hour or two and I might have to say no! (unless I was still getting paid tips -- hey, why not?) [Bethany1202]
Yeah, yeah, you typed what your brain was thinking!!! wub They did keep their tips...$51/each happy [LadyMarissa]
That was so generous of them, I can manage to take a voluntary task especially if it helps another, but definitely, I would not be able to make it longer since I myself need to feed and cloth myself on. Their boss must be very lucky and grateful to have a bunch of good heart people he has employed ! [torchablazed]
I do believe they deserve each other!!! He's gotta be a dayum good boss to get 17 people to give up their pay just for the pleasure of working for him. Yes, I hope he's very grateful!!! [LadyMarissa]
I don't think their is a better way to honor your boss. I hope the people of that town realize that he is a great guy and that a lot of bosses could learn from him! [Debs_place]
I don't think they told how many customers came in that night but collectively they left around $900.00 in tips & they divided it up evenly between everybody (EXCEPT the boss) shocked [LadyMarissa]
If it meant helping my job stay alive, you bet!! I think that was wonderful and they must really care about their boss. [nanajanet]
Yes, he has to be one goooood guy!!! [LadyMarissa]
Due to the economic clement I would think about working free. Working one shift for free is better then being fired witch i am sure the boss had to consider doing if this arrangement had not been worked out at least this way no one gets fires everyone has to give up 8 hours. Perhaps this could work in the rest of the world too. Then we would have fewer layoffs. [cripfemme]
Unless I missed it, the boss didn't ask them to do this!!! In my area, they are making people take one day a week off (WITHOUT pay). They have to take 6 days between now & June. The BIG earners have to take 9 days [LadyMarissa]
I sure would!! If I had to donate only one shift to keep my job it would be a good trade-off. Things are really bad now, I would definitely work with my employer--if I even had one!--to keep my job. [dragon54u]
That's what made this so amazing to me.....he DIDN'T ask them to do it!!! [LadyMarissa]
I read in the article that when the patrons of the restaurant found out about the employees working a shift free that they upped their tips...so in a way things kind of evened out. Sure why not? I'd be willing to do that..work one shift free that is [pyewacket]
They split the tips between the 17 so they got about $51.00/each [LadyMarissa]
I suppose you could say I work for free quite often, considering I volunteer at least 8 hours a week every week. But as far as at work, I would have to say no. I have been tricked into working for free before at quite a few sleazy places, but I would not willingly work for free if it was not a non-profit company. If I was paid an excessive amount I would be willing to take a pay cut. And I have voluntarily taken time off before when doing so prevented layoffs for the common good. But actually coming in and working for free, no I wouldn't do it and thankfully I'm pretty sure the company I'm at now really wouldn't even allow that. I might honor the boss though by giving a gift or bringing in snacks or something else though. [Pigglies]
That is so nice, you never hear of things like this happening. He must be a great employer and very proud of his staff. [howard96h]
I'm sure he's very proud of his staff & they seem to be very fond of him too. They gave of their time!!! wub wub wub [LadyMarissa]
I think that if the boss shows a commitment to the staff and makes their workplace a truly good place for them to be then why not? If the Boss thrives then I thrive too. [p1kef1sh]
Sometimes you are most wise my friend!!! happy happy [LadyMarissa]
When I first started in restaurant management I found that if your employees know that you are willing to jump right in there with them and be the leader and work harder than them then you get their respect real quick. I did this whenever I took over a restaurant. I would also do extra for my folks: on one of my days off I would cook a lasagna and bring it in for them to enjoy on their breaks, have at least one cook-out and "awards ceremony" at my home each year, remember their birthdays and their children's birthdays-- things like that. My folks ALWAYS took very good care of me! [BethsMom24]
My last boss used to say...When my assistant ain't happy, nobody is going to be happy!!! We had a great working relationship!!! [LadyMarissa]
He must be a really good boss. I think I'd do it as a one-off to suport him, but not as a regular thing. Inversely, when I was working in France and 9/11 happened, the company I was working for (American) had to make a lot of cuts. The bosses there (the director and his VPs, the top-level guys) all took a pay cut to $1 a month for six months, just so they could keep more people employed. "I don't NEED the salary," the big boss said, "and I'd rather keep more people." How cool is that? [SpikeTheLobster]
I worked for one guy who was soooo good to me that when he was about to lose his business, I worked for 2 months without pay. We remained good friends after he had to officially close too. [LadyMarissa]
Yes,i would and i have and would be more than happy to do it again.That was a wonderful thing they every body needs a break some times and when times are,i think people should do what they can to help out there employer. [mommamusic]
I knew what you were going to say!!! happy wub wub [LadyMarissa]
Wow that's a nice thing to do for their boss. I would do it too. It would be like volunteering for one shift. [maddysmommy]
Worth it when you have a good boss!!! [LadyMarissa]
I think i may work in this condition but i am really not sure. I mean working without getting paid is not work actually. You will not be motivated at all. I think if the boss is good with me in the past then i may give him free work in return. It depends upon the situation alot. [rizzu87]
i will think of some other ways..but work for free.hell NO [mikkymyde]
Sometimes you get what you give!!! [LadyMarissa]
He must be a fantastic boss for ALL of his employees to undertake this as it would not have been easy. The other thing is that it highlights that not only do the employees think highly of their boss but he trusted them to work without him being there for the day. The fact is that if business has been slow, due to the current economic situation, the boss might very well have been forced to put some of his workers off. That would not have been good for any of them I imagine so if the employees are willing to forego a day's pay, it will help the business. Also I am sure this is getting a massive amount of free publicity for everyone concerned and I suspect that a lot of customers will go there. Everyone is feeling the financial pinch and we would like to think that our boss would not put us off work, so I think that for many if they are given an opportunity to save someone else's job, they will do so. whistle There is a fruit processing plant here in Australia that has been doing a similar thing for over 20 years now. One day during the fruit season the workers work for nothing (3 shifts), the growers provide the fruit at no cost and the comopany provides the plant and equipment. The can and bottle manufacturers provide those items used that day free of charge as well. Everything produced that day is given to the charities for distribution amongst the poor and needy. Generally we do not buy these products as we have our own but there are a few things that we do not grow, so buy those products from that particular company. If all those people are prepared to help those less fortunate, then we can support them. [oldboy46]
I agree. I live a long way from there, but I have been toying with the idea of driving up there just to see a place where employees love not only their job...but their boss enough to honor him in such a manner. Most people I know HATE their job. They would NOT work for even one hour for free...forget a whole shift. I would love to see 17 people happy to come to work every day!!! [LadyMarissa]
I do work for free, I'm a stay at home mom. No, I would not work for free in a regular job. [camomom]
If it helped everyone to keep their jobs and help out the business, then I would participate also. Apparently as others here have mentioned the boss must have been deserving to have his employees help him or her out so much.. They must have thought highly of their boss. It sure got them attention and maybe better business so maybe an unselfish act proved to be profitable! [ryzach]
Yes, he must be one hell of a boss to get 17 people to work their shift for free. Yes, it has gotten them some GREAT free publicity. Their regular customers left extra tips on the day they worked for no wages, so I would think when trying to decide where to eat, that would be one of the first places they think to go. So, by giving one free day, they have increased their volume of business & in the process increased the income for the business as well as their tips. What impressed me was they ALL did it without even being asked by the boss!!! [LadyMarissa]
If I were forced with the decision, work one day for free or loose my job...you betchya I'd give my time one day a week. With the economy as it is, finding another job would be next to impossible. As it is, I work for a friend, and my wages are...shall you say...less than what I am worth, and less than minimum wage...so in essence I work about two days a week for free, if I were tocompare my salary with others in my field. [edgyk8inmomma]
Yes I am...in my area, tha ratio is closer to 3 out of 10. Michigans unemployment rate is at about 30% now....scary! [edgyk8inmomma]
I think if it meant losing my job or working one day for free I would. I heard about this story from the Air1 radio station I listen to on the iTunes, I am glad the customers gave larger tips that day. Would you give a larger tip if you went into a pancake house and found out the staff was working for free? [teapotmommommerced]
You dayum right I would!!! I admire everyone involved in this from the boss to the dishwasher!!! happy happy happy [LadyMarissa]