Undercover Boss, anyone?

[happygirl]

It was neat my sister works at the showboat Branson Belle she is a server as well. I believe they taped there in October

 

[Starbrite]

I really like this show, I've been watching it every week


My question is..... How do they always find the people with the best stories, most drama, biggest need, etc. If they don't inform the supervisors & managers at that location - how do they end up with the right people. Can't be luck

 

[HERSEY]

I would much rather watch this "Reality TV" than celebrity apprentice and the like. This feels more real to me.

 

[babytrees]

I really like this show, I've been watching it every week


My question is..... How do they always find the people with the best stories, most drama, biggest need, etc. If they don't inform the supervisors & managers at that location - how do they end up with the right people. Can't be luck

my guess is with them filming for a week they have duds in there also....we just get to see the ones that make the best tv. I think the supervisors might also get a clue from the production crew to put the boss with the best workers to train them.

Plus these people are taking jobs that are filled by mainly the working poor so there is going to be need in all of those positions.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Plus, we do see "duds". There were the 7-11 (I think) supervisors who, according to workers, just stood around, didn't help even when things got backed up (but who, when asked, at least one claimed she does help out ); there was that Danielle in customer service last week who almost got fired DURING a call, and who ended up leaving the company between the 'reveal' and the update; and of course, the infamous bordering-on-abusive Hooters manager who's no longer with THAT company.

 

[Missy1961]

I was actually waiting for "Cold Case" to start, and watched the last 20 minutes.

I agree, the CEO, Joel Manby, seemed very touched and moved by some of the stories he heard.

And I got all misty when he told the woman who worked at the aquarium, who was formerly homeless that she was getting an immediate raise. And then the kid who was getting his tuition paid, well, that was when the waterworks started . . .

Same here. (happened last week too). I cried like crazy when that kid found out he was getting his tuition. I usually don't like reality TV, but this one is growing on me.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

OK, watching the episode about the CEO from Roto Rooter, I can't help but feel annoyed by him.

I'm only halfway through the episode, but I noticed that the CEO was very buddy buddy with all of the male workers he was assigned to follow, but when he was in the call center with a female employee, his attitude seemed to do a 180. He would jump answers before she had a chance to tell him what he'd need to do, and when he spoke with a female customer he was the same way. Not to call him sexist outright, but he sure did seem to come off that way...

 

[babytrees]

OK, watching the episode about the CEO from Roto Rooter, I can't help but feel annoyed by him.

I'm only halfway through the episode, but I noticed that the CEO was very buddy buddy with all of the male workers he was assigned to follow, but when he was in the call center with a female employee, his attitude seemed to do a 180. He would jump answers before she had a chance to tell him what he'd need to do, and when he spoke with a female customer he was the same way. Not to call him sexist outright, but he sure did seem to come off that way...

We decided not to watch this one tonight because the commercials made the whole episode look boring.

My guess is more to do with his age than true sexism....my grandpa doesn't think my sister and I can do anything mechanical....even though he taught us. I am better than my husband at those things....it just has to do with the age not that he is sexist (and he has some other idiosyncracies that we attribute to his age).

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Well, you really didn't miss much. It really was a very plant-y looking episode. Every worker had some big bill they needed to pay, or some sob story that you know they'd selected those people for that specific purpose.

The female employee I was talking about had a huge mortgage to pay and an autistic son. In the end, she was entered into a program for families with autistic children that the company was paying for, and $5,000 for her mortgage. Overall, very bleh week.

 

[SKWDW]

I agree with MonkeyDishwasher, this week's was our least favorite episode.

I was sad to hear that next week is the season finale. Hopefully CBS likes the ratings and can find other companies to participate.

 

[MIGrandma]

I guess I'm in the minority because I really liked last night's episode with the Roto-Rooter CEO. I thought he was very genuine in his feelings, and liked it that he was emotional. I felt bad for him, never making amends with his father, but it sounds like he had a pretty rotten childhood because of his alcoholic father.

Sorry to see next week's episode is the season finale.

I wonder how they can do another season of shows, I would think so many people have seen the shows this season and they couldn't go undercover as easily.

 

[Disney Ella]

Well, you really didn't miss much. It really was a very plant-y looking episode. Every worker had some big bill they needed to pay, or some sob story that you know they'd selected those people for that specific purpose.

The female employee I was talking about had a huge mortgage to pay and an autistic son. In the end, she was entered into a program for families with autistic children that the company was paying for, and $5,000 for her mortgage. Overall, very bleh week.

That's what I thought! I watched the show for the first time last night and thought it was very scripted, or at least arranged. You know the producers didn't randomly pair the boss up with anyone. The employees were carefully chosen based on their stories.

If I was told that I was being filmed for a program about the company's 75th anniversary and was going to help a new employee for a day, I would be suspicious when the new employee asked me to tell him about myself. That just sounds like an interview question and not the typical conversation you might have with someone if you were a new employee. I can't imagine that I would open up to someone I just met about my problems either. Maybe when I knew them for awhile, but not the first day, when I'm supposed to be training them to do a job.

The show just had a very "Extreme Makeover" kind of feeling to me. Show the boss reacting tearfully to the poor employees and their problems and give them a prize at the end. I don't doubt that he was moved by some of their problems, but it just seemed so manipulative to me. I don't think I will be watching the show again.

 

[shannonh]

Thank goodness, I wasn't the only one who didn't care for him. I like the show, but he was irritating me. The call center thing was annoying, if I was on the other end of that call I'd have been like "thanks anyway, dude." Didn't seem like he knew anything about the company that he was running. And, when he was "taken back" by the discount that guy gave the lady, til he realized he worked on commission and was actually losing money out of his pay, really made me cringe. I know obviously the company needs to make money and not everyone can get discounts, blah, blah, blah..but just his attitude sucked.. I told my husband, I hoped he wasn't trying to win any fans last night.

 

[RUDisney]

My gosh, cry much??? What a wussy CEO.

You guys were right. It was a very boring episode but it made me wonder how that guy got to the top. He seemed about as impressive as the Hooters CEO.

I wonder how much the recovering guy is going to be paid to be a motivational speaker since he'll be away from his family so much. I hope he uses the training that RR is giving him to springboard his career so that the tradeoff of family life to travel is worth it.

 

[anniemae]

I thought the guy was such a cryer. I am suprised he got to where he is, he just seemed so weak. He definateley has unresolved issues about his dad.

Anyway, it is totally orchastrated. They pair him up with folks who have a "story" otherwise the show would be boring. It is always during the break time when the ceo gets the person to talk. I would also be suspicious, he just met these folks and expects them to open up.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's not "always during the break time". That, frequently, makes the most sense since during work time the experienced employee is supposed to be training the new employee and talking about work, the job, what needs to be done, etc.

I know obviously the company needs to make money and not everyone can get discounts, blah, blah, blah..but just his attitude sucked..

Some of you watched the show for the first time this week; others here watch it (reasonably) faithfully. Part of the goal of the show IS to educate the CEO/COO how things work among, well, the workers. To the best of my knowledge, no boss so far has worked his way up through the organization. The RotoRooter boss came closest, in that he observed his dad working in the factory while growing up. So it's an education for them.

The call center thing was annoying, if I was on the other end of that call I'd have been like "thanks anyway, dude." Didn't seem like he knew anything about the company that he was running.

And the woman (I'm usually better with names; the only one I remember is Chris) was right to roll her eyes - I'm glad they caught that on camera and aired it

My gosh, cry much??? What a wussy CEO.

Having -and showing - emotions doesn't make one wussy.

What bothers ME about the entire series is, and my memory may be faulty - for the most part, it seems only the individuals who appear on the episodes benefit from the CEOs' largesse - the $5,000 for the CSR's mortgage, the gym equipment and health food store account for one of the technicians, various assistance in earlier episodes. Again, if I'm forgetting, please correct me - but it seems the only CEO who made changes to COMPANY policy/benefits was last week, from Herschend? He started a scholarship program for employees (and gave the first one to the man who aspires after his job ); he didn't just give tuition to one employee.

 

[SadieDog]

I guess I'm in the minority because I really liked last night's episode with the Roto-Rooter CEO. I thought he was very genuine in his feelings, and liked it that he was emotional. I felt bad for him, never making amends with his father, but it sounds like he had a pretty rotten childhood because of his alcoholic father.

Sorry to see next week's episode is the season finale.

I wonder how they can do another season of shows, I would think so many people have seen the shows this season and they couldn't go undercover as easily.

I feel the same as you. I'm right there in the minority with you.

 

[babytrees]

What bothers ME about the entire series is, and my memory may be faulty - for the most part, it seems only the individuals who appear on the episodes benefit from the CEOs' largesse - the $5,000 for the CSR's mortgage, the gym equipment and health food store account for one of the technicians, various assistance in earlier episodes. Again, if I'm forgetting, please correct me - but it seems the only CEO who made changes to COMPANY policy/benefits was last week, from Herschend? He started a scholarship program for employees (and gave the first one to the man who aspires after his job ); he didn't just give tuition to one employee.

Herschend,7-11 and one other(Waste Management, I think) did more like half and half...half individual benefits and half compnay wide benefits....but these companies also seemed to have more to offer their workers to begin with and didn't get the word out properly about those benefits . Oh, and White Castle mentioned something about starting a healthier program for it's employees.

 

[Mkrop]

OK, watching the episode about the CEO from Roto Rooter, I can't help but feel annoyed by him.

I'm only halfway through the episode, but I noticed that the CEO was very buddy buddy with all of the male workers he was assigned to follow, but when he was in the call center with a female employee, his attitude seemed to do a 180. He would jump answers before she had a chance to tell him what he'd need to do, and when he spoke with a female customer he was the same way. Not to call him sexist outright, but he sure did seem to come off that way...

See I didnt see him as sexist but I think he was a knowitall because he helped designed the system. I think because he helped design it, he went into the job thinking it was going to be a piece of cake and it was not because it was more than a computer system, you have to deal with the customer too.

And I have worked for many CEOs/CFOs, and have wondered how they got the job because sometimes their people skills stink, but they obviously did soemthing right since they are gettting paid the big bucks and I am not.

 

[JodiR]

I wonder how they can do another season of shows, I would think so many people have seen the shows this season and they couldn't go undercover as easily.

I am thinking that maybe they taped more shows than what we have seen and using those for next season. I love this show and watch it every Sunday night.