A New Jersey hospitality employer is drawing serious negative backlash after an image depicting a clear threat to fire any and all workers who don't bring the restaurant 5-star reviews.
The image showed a policy list aggressively tailored to the employees of Triple T Hospitality Group regarding Google reviews.
"Every service employee for FOH [front of house] is required to get a minimum of 5 Google reviews per month to remain employed at the Edison location starting February 2022," said the notice.
"The review must include your first name and five stars in order to count."
from newjersey
Immediately, the policy took off to all corners of the internet where it was universally maligned.
Tommy's Tavern and tap in Staten island... \nThreatening their employees over google reviews seems dishonest and abusive to me. \n\nyou know what to dopic.twitter.com/fnaOuhZpEC— \ud83e\udd40_Imposter_\ud83d\udd78\ufe0f (@\ud83e\udd40_Imposter_\ud83d\udd78\ufe0f) 1642807726
I have made over 4,000 Google reviews. I don't think I have ever named a single person by name, in any of them. How would a person get a Google review that names them personally? I cannot imagine being so desperate for a job that I would work under those conditions.— Gregory Wirtel (@Gregory Wirtel) 1642880782
If you wanted to see the responses..\n\nTommy's Tavern Tap\n(718) 489-2201https://maps.app.goo.gl/m9KD1WB9RVo1sEwo8\u00a0\u2026— Fyrelocke Is Vaccinated (believe in science) (@Fyrelocke Is Vaccinated (believe in science)) 1642822005
One of my employer's BEGGED us to leave positive reviews & asked our family/friends do it as well. Red flag warning. It's also considered a conflict of interest on Google reviews.— Snow \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@Snow \ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc73\udb40\udc63\udb40\udc74\udb40\udc7f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea) 1642821807
In addition to requiring a minimum of 5 five-star reviews, the policy added competition between employees for prizes.
"We will have monthly Google review contests each month to promote health[y] competition. You must have a minimum of 15 reviews to qualify for the prizes."
"1st place winner gets first pick out of five potential prizes and 2nd place gets to choose from the left-over prizes."
Prizes available included 2 free meals—but only up to $22—and a Starbucks gift card.
Sounds like a good company to boycott.https://twitter.com/Imposter_Edits/status/1484669328301735937\u00a0\u2026— Smh (@Smh) 1643205449
Whatya think? Horrendous policy.https://twitter.com/imposter_edits/status/1484669328301735937\u00a0\u2026— \ud83c\udf1b\ud83c\udf39Theresa Martinez Flannery \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf1c\ud83d\udc89 (@\ud83c\udf1b\ud83c\udf39Theresa Martinez Flannery \ud83c\udf39\ud83c\udf1c\ud83d\udc89) 1642991994
Abusive management coercing employees to get them get google reviews. They all should tell management to kiss ass and walk out!!https://twitter.com/Imposter_Edits/status/1484669328301735937\u00a0\u2026— Will (@Will) 1642819553
loser establishmenthttps://twitter.com/Imposter_Edits/status/1484669328301735937\u00a0\u2026— Ollie (@Ollie) 1642811919
Upper management, however, were not the ones responsible for this policy—but instead a rogue "middle manager" who has since been fired from the staff.
"We did not institute this policy," Andrea Bonfiglio, chief marketing officer of Triple T Hospitality Group, said. "It's an insane policy."
"People are people and you can’t watch them 24/7. This one bad egg caused such chaos. We love our employees and our employees are like family. The thought of us doing this is ridiculous."
"We did not institute this policy," the owners of Tommy's Tavern + Tap and Tio Taco + Tequila said. "It's an insane policy."https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/01/24/tio-taco-tequila-edison-nj-google-review-policy/9204074002/\u00a0\u2026— Jenna Intersimone (@Jenna Intersimone) 1643070954
Who could possibly believe that a policy like this would be real, given the struggle restaurants are having trying to find employees right now?— Fiona L. A. Torbick (@Fiona L. A. Torbick) 1643073041
Um... 'According to Bonfiglio, a "rogue" general manager "took it upon himself" to type up the policy'— Andrew Bucko (@Andrew Bucko) 1643128104
Misleading headline because it WAS implemented by a manager. They wouldn\u2019t fire two people if it wasn\u2019t\u2026— B\u00f6fa (@B\u00f6fa) 1643143403
The restaurant's image, however, has suffered.
Locations in Bridgewater, Princeton, Clifton, Morris Plains, Freehold, Sea Bright, New Jersey and Staten Island, New York were bombarded by several one-star reviews after the image went viral.
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