Boston Market Employee Fired By ‘Undercover Boss’
For the first time in the show’s history, an employee featured on CBS’ “Undercover Boss” was fired after an incognito company bigwig witnessed his abysmal attitude firsthand. A Duluth, Ga. Boston Market shift supervisor, identified only as Ronnie, was asked to train a new waitress during the show’s Feb 1 episode. Little did he know that the waitress, Rachel Rand, was really Boston Market Chief Brand Officer Sara Bittorf.
Ronnie was aware, however, that his training sections were being videoed for a reality show. “Rachel” explained the cameras under the guise she was appearing on a show to win a chance to open her own diner. And yet even with this knowledge, Ronnie did not hesitate to blast Boston Market customers on camera.
As Bittorf underwent Ronnie’s training session, she soon became appalled at his hatred for their customers.
“I literally hate customers more than anything in the entire world, I hate them so much,” he told Bittorf, knowing his words were being captured for a television audience of some sort. “They’re terrible. It’s all about them all the time and they demand everything.”
Finally, Bittorf became so frustrated she excused herself from Ronnie’s presence to catch her breath and collect her thoughts.
“My job’s on the line,” she said to the camera. “Here I am a representative of this brand and this is what happens. It can’t happen on my watch.
“I can’t have someone who just told me that they hate customers more than anything in the world serving our guests. That’s the complete antithesis of what we stand for.”
Bittorf then confronted Ronnie with the truth, scolding him for his behavior.
“Without the guests in there, we don’t have a business and you don’t have a paycheck,” she told him before sending him home for the day while she considered what additional action to take.
Still, Ronnie was not remorseful. After his conversation with Bittorf, he told the cameras he didn’t think his attitude was that terrible and, therefore, wouldn’t say he would alter it going forward.
“It’s not wrong of me to hate people,” he said. “They don’t know I’m saying it so it’s not that big a deal but now this giant lady of Boston Market knows what’s going on, that’s just not fair.”
Bittorf then proceeded to reveal her identity to the Duluth branch manager and advised Ronnie be fired. The manager agreed, and Ronnie no longer works for Boston Market.