Posted by denised in 
Apparently disgusted by the behavior of business partner and alleged bad boss, Carol McLaughlin, the entire staff of NY’s designer coffee house, Gorilla Coffee, quit. Last Friday, a longstanding dispute over McLaughlin’s management style came to a head when employees insisted she be removed from day-to-day operations at the coffee bar. In a written complaint to management, the workers wrote that their repeated attempts at addressing the issues have been “brushed aside and ignored” and that the work environment was “perpetually malicious, hostile, and demeaning.” In the letter the workers also indicated that the walk-out wasn’t an attempt at bargaining with owners, because they had no intention of coming back.
Co-owner Darleen Scherer, speaking to the New York Times said the employees made “an unreasonable request, and then they didn’t have any way to go but out.” She added that McLaughlin was often “like a drill sergeant,” citing the rigorous training required for baristas as a reason. Wait. What? I know people love their coffee and will die without it, especially when it’s served at a high price coffee house, but “rigorous” and “demanding?” Are we training marines our barista’s here?
In this economy, when an entire staff walks off the job, something is definitely wrong with management, no ifs ands or buts about it. And, unless these owners do something about the problem, the next group of marine-style baristas to come to work for them is going to walk off the job just like this crew.
Read the entire Gorilla Coffee saga here.
Photo Source: NY Mag
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