I have some points I want to discuss with Everett Citizen and the contributors in these rooms who have made it clear they are going to do their thing without any instruction from business owners/managers.EC, you talked about "firing the boss" and establishing "employee-owned" businesses. I know you hate McDonald's and everything they stand for, but please humor me if you will because I'm going to use The Arches as an example. Now say 3 Navistar Schoolbuses of children pulled into the lot, along with a Ford Explorer full of kids, a Ford Expedition full of kids, and [affirmative action at work] a Chevy Suburban and the new Dodge Durango both full of more kids. Of course these orders are going to be "to go" because the Fire Code usually won't allow an occupancy of more than 100.
Houston, we have a problem! Now, these school football team members...and their huge entourage of supporters that came along for the ride...are RAVENOUSLY hungry, and want quality, hot food ASAP!!! A two-hour committee meeting among all the "Owner/Associates" on how to serve this huge group what they want...and do it RIGHT...is going to piss them off, not to mention the other customers contributing to that huge line that is already extending out one entrance. Drive-thru is a whole nuther deal..let's not forget that! Do you have any idea on how everyone can QUICKLY decide what needs to be done to get everyone served efficiently and accurately?
Other matters: Irregardless of the working environment, be it utopian or otherwise, there will be at least one employee (or "associate") who just is not going to pull his or her weight...and will find (or invent) something to whine about. Since there are no bosses, how should this problem be dealt with? What if counselling and numerous attempts to accomodate this person come of no avail? [My annual salary is in the upper-teens..I've met people who make over $30 Thou who have the same lack of motivations and rebellious attitudes as several "min. wage" earners.]
Also, how is pay to be determinned? Keep in mind all businesses have expenses they need to meet (rent or mortgage, suppliers to pay, etc.). If the "associates" decide to take home too high a percentage of the revenues generated, the business will fail, and then everybody is fucked. Do you have any ideas on how to keep everyone financially satisfied...and the business thriving? A healthy business is your security, especially in this type of arrangement. Finally on this matter, how will one become an "associate"? Will he or she need to contribute an investment? Or will he earn his stake in the firm over a period of time?
I've read many conflicting accounts regarding employee pay, especially the crew members. I don't know if the Corporate Stores and private franchises are paying the best wages possible without crippling the stores' abilities to function. Again I've never seen a franchise balance sheet, and Cracker Jack wouldn't even give me an Accounting Certificate from a box!!! Joey Stalin, Dan, and Cara know more than I do about the store funtions and all.
Well for what it's worth I've said my piece for this morning...took me two fucking hours to write. Mike Sprout, if you haven't left us yet, I too suck as a typist.
Well anyway I gotta go!
Cheers and Peace!
Mike.
P.S. Everybody behave yourselves or you might find a magic bamboo cane in your sock!
