The BIG Kahuna

Does anyone have any idea how difficult it is to have your own employees as a brand ambassador? I received a disturbing email from Lauren, a 14 year veteran bartender from the 99 Restaurant in Easton/Brockton. Let me say that again, she’s worked for the 99 Restaurant for 14 years… as a bartender. I wonder how many bartenders last 14 years at the 99?

I know Lauren personally so this email came as a shock. She loves her job and the 99 Restaurant?so much that she took the time to send me (customer) a personal email. Check it out:

Hi everyone,
As most of you have already heard (and I apologize to those of you I have yet to tell) I have been fired from the “99″ Restaurant after 14 years of service. It was done via voicemail a day after I had a meeting with both a general and assistant manager from the Easton restaurant.
No reason was given on the message but the meeting was about my usage of manager’s access codes and swipe cards. As a trusted senior unofficial head bartender, those codes and cards were given to me by the managers themselves.

I cannot begin to describe how sad I am to be leaving this way and to be leaving all of you as well. The “99″ was more than just a job to me. It wasn’t just the benefit package and the income that I will miss.?I have met some of my closest friends and some of the greatest people in my 14 years there. I will miss everyone I came into contact with (well almost everyone!)

Some people have expressed their desire to write to the company on my behalf. Since I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with my Operations Director or Human Resources (they will not return my calls) I think emails and/or letters on my behalf would be nice.
Though this termination took me completely by surprise and has devastated me, I am humbled and overwhelmed by the amount of support and kindness I have received.

The “99″ Restaurants
160 Olympia Avenue
Woburn, MA 01801

Karen Marchand (HR Manager) KMarchand@99restaurants.com
Michelle Dean (Operations Manager, the one who’s ultimate decision it was) Mdean@99restaurants.com
Jim Kiley (Regional Director) JKiley@99restaurants.com

Thank you all so much
I will miss you,
Lauren Dupre

Does that sound like an employee that has done wrong or one that truly loved her company? Whatever the circumstances Lauren was an outstanding customer relations person for the 99 Restaurant and unless she has done wrong the 99 Restaurant has made a huge mistake (in my humble opinion). 14 years as a bartender people. I couldn’t do it.

Since I get about 2000 readers a day let’s all send a quick note to the emails above, Lauren at least deserves the right to know why she was fired from the job she loved and worked 14 years for?right?

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 11th, 2008 at 4:34 pm and is filed under Branding News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.