New Show Premiering after Super Bowl - Undercover Boss

[srmom]

Y'all watch this new show after the Super Bowl! My friend is featured! It is really cool to see him in action. Here is the preview they're running on cbs.com:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/underco...page&play=true

He's a great guy, and I think it shows!!

[ree-Xi]

The dude is on television, temporarily doing the "crap job" for a company that likely pays him millions, and vows to "change things". Free PR in this economy is pretty hard to say no to. And token displays of kindness in the form of promotions, bonuses and pay raises aren't likely to be universal. Those few employees who may receive bonuses, raises or promotions may be happy, but what about the hundreds, perhaps thousands of others in the same company, perhaps in other locations, working crap jobs for hours for crap pay?

Anyone can do most jobs for a day, especially knowing that tomorrow, they go to beck their cushy office, high paychecks and pumped up benefits packages. I would guess that almost any "CEO" or officer in a company would feel humbled by sorting garbage with their hands, or working 8 hours without a pee break, hopes/vows to make changes, but it doesn't make him or her "special". How could he not try to fix some of the injustices and wretched work conditions? Does he then go home to bills he can't pay, or trying to decide between food or his kid's medicine?

Plus, it's cheap for CBS to do the show because no one appearing on the show is paid by CBS to be on the show, as they agreed to be part of a "documentary". The sappy "Extreme Home Makerover" type music just adds to the fantasy and unreality of the whole situation.

I am happy for anyone whose life is changed by their boss's eye-opening experiences, but I probably won't watch it. (I did watch the extended promo).

[srmom]

Wow, Okay. For one thing, Larry was a wonderful guy, BEFORE he went on the show, and I'm sure that the revelations he found by working for every facet of the company, from vacuuming out port-a-potties, to riding the trucks will truly make a difference in the decisions that he makes as the boss. I'm sure he didn't do this to feel "special" as you put it. He already does feel special - he has a loving family, a wonderful circle of friends, and a supportive community.

So, while I agree that the people's lives that he touched directly will benefit, I believe that ALL the employees will benefit from his experience.

I'm surprised that you think that a caring boss who truly sees what it's like in the trenches - not on some tour where everyone is on their best behavior, but incognito, where he is just another worker, will not come away changed, and in turn, change the way they treat their employees. But then, I'm an optimist, not a cynic.

It also helps that I know and am friends with Larry, and know what kind of man he is, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and believe that he will be a better boss and person because of this experience.

[DrPhil]

Being a friend understandably shapes your perspective, srmom.

I'm more inclined to agree with ree-Xi.

[srmom]

Yes, that's true, but like I said, I'm an optimist, and a hopeless believer in "good". If I didn't know him, and I watched it, I would be touched by the story.

But then, I cry watching Hallmark commercials

[DrPhil]

Hallmark commercials are touching.

I just look at it as any other "boss publicly does 'lower jobs' for a day" gigs. I assume (based on what you said) that he was very concious before the show idea came about. And I hope this serves to directly benefit the employees beyond making the boss look super cool and the company look super awesome.

[Leslie Anne]

I'll be an optimist today and give Larry the benefit of the doubt. Most bosses really wouldn't give a damn. If it actually changes the working conditions and the way things are run at a company, I'm all for it. Sure there's free PR but, again, I doubt that would entice all that many CEOs or COOs to get down there in the trenches even if it is just for a few days.

[DrPhil]

I just saw the commercial. Ignoring the cheesy music and slow motion hugging, he said "...is going to change how we do business forever...."

Let's hope so, not like there will really be any follow-up.

[srmom]

Well, I'll follow up and let y'all know.

[ASTalumna06]

While I'm a little skeptical about the whole "let's make the company better!" idea, I'm also inclined to think that putting the poor working conditions of your company on national television would push you to make things better (even if you didn't really want to).

However, if you didn't really want to, I don't think you'd agree to do the show.

[DrPhil]

I liked it. The teary eyed undercover boss was touching.

I still can't help but say "this was just slumming." As with every other type of "slumming," you leave your safe environment to "see what others go through" or even to help, but your experiences are that of someone who is undercover and is going back to your high living.

Only time will tell whether the bosses incorporate changes in their companies after seeing what employees go through on a daily basis. More importantly, will the bosses incorporate changes in their billion dollar companies even if these changes mess with the company's bottom line, atleast initially. Most companies haven't figured out (and don't want to invest in the revelation) that happier and safer employees make for better work and more profit in the long run.


(The Black guy who made cleaning toilets fun was AWESOME. There are jobs for EVERYONE and I give props to those who make careers out of odd jobs. People say "well, they're losers because they can't get something better!" Uh...that's the natural distribution of life. If everyone could and did get something "better," who would clean sewers and stuff? )

[Senusret I]

I liked it, too. It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be.

[agzg]

I liked it a lot. I would like to think that those who start at the bottom are better managers if they make it to the top, and that those at the top at least need to see the challenges of being at the bottom. The coffee-can toilet made me really mad, not gonna lie.

I'm looking forward to next week because I really do think a lot of changes need to be made in the way Hooters does business, and I really hope the manager featured in the promos gets his ass fired.

[GeorgiaGPhiB]

I was looking forward to show and was not disappointed. I fully understand the opinions out there about how this is not going to help the whole company and "change the way we do business forever". I had some of those same thoughts myself, but the fact that he is trying goes a long way with me. My opinion on the company is the same and I hope the reality shock stays longer than predicted.

[DrPhil]

I don't see this as bosses trying. If if was just about concern and effort on the part of the boss they wouldn't need cameras to catch it.