Complaint Review: Denny's

So I read all of your complaints and it is obvious that there was alot going on. Let me just start by saying that I am a manager for Denny's and a lot of what you are saying is untrue.

First of all, ALL MANAGEMENT goes through extensive training dealing with the prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. So when your fiance was promoted, she needed numerous classes prior to arriving at a salary. During those classes, management is given the necessary info on what steps to follow if an employee or customer feels as though they have been harassed or discriminated against. Thus either she has never had those classes or just did not pay attention.

Secondly, as for the salary thing. It depends on if your fiance was a unit aide or an actual manager. At that point, a unit aide is paid by the hour so anything over 40 is overtime. A manager is paid for a 50 hour week and that is clearly stated in the hand book which she would have signed at hire and at promotion(management handbook). When a manager works over 50 hours, they are entitled to a pay back day which would be equal time off. That also is depending on if it was because of business trends. It could be that your fiance was tired at an end of a shift which is understandable, but at that point did not manage her time wisely.So in her evaluations that she would have gotten at the end of her training(for promotion), it would have clearly stated any issues at hand. So if she never fully completed her management training, she would have stayed on as hourly so she would have ben paid overtime. So if she could not work the 50 hours, then it could be pro-rated depending on the her actual management status.

As for the ridicule, if she enjoyed her job , she should have followed the chain of command which is clearly printed in ALL stores and most companies I have ever worked for. Not following the chain of command, she could be repimanded as well. But there is a number to call if you are afraid of retaliation.

As for the fight that occured, Denny's has STRICT policies about not following a walk out of the store. Your life is too valuable. As long as she had their description and could see from the window the make of the car and maybe a partcial plate, the rest could have been handled. So your fiance broke the rule when she followed them out and her stupidity put her at risk, not Denny's.

I am a woman manager as well. I understand being pregnant and working. I also understand management of the food service industry and it is not for everyone. If all was happening as you write, then all the resources that Denny's Corporate invests in and even makes available to the franchises should have been utilized. Best of luck to you and your family and may your life improve with her being gone from a job she chose to manage even after being there as a server and knowing what the GM was like.

Also, if the store is a moldy as you say, you should contact Denny's Corporate office in Spartenburg and make them aware and contact your local health department.

It's all our faults! I can't believe I didn't see it before, but golly Paul, your right! My fiancee must have wanted to be hurt and rush to the hospital. She must have wanted to been treated unfairly as the only woman manager there. It's completely fair and legit and it's all her fault for being a woman! I don't know what kind of person can sit there and say that all this injustice was self-inflicted.

I'm not saying that the last incident was the restaurant's fault, but there are fights there every weekend- INSIDE the restaurant. She once had to kick out a group of girls and once they heard she was pregnant, one of them said "Let's punch her in the stomach!" And I don't know if you are aware but being a server does Not Pay unless you are running tables like crazy, something that would be a LOT harder on a pregnant woman than being a manager. Your comments serve no purpose to this post and just prove you're an unsympathetic person who would rather start an argument than solve a problem.

Is anybody home?? We HAVE taken action, she HAS quit her job, we ARE getting a lawyer. I feel we ARE taking responsibility. Your course of action would be "just go be a server somewhere else", take it lying down, and let it keep happening. I've heard your suggestions, Paul, and NO THANKS.

Hello ... is anyone home? What happened was your wife's own fault! After numerous problems at that Denny's, she willingly chose to stay! Health insurance or not ... hello ... what is more important, having a safe, alive wife and baby, or toting around a paper insurance card?

Furthermore, your wife should not have jeopardized her safety by running outside to get information on the walk-out. EVERY restaurant, retail establishment, etc. has this written in their handbooks, as the company does not want to be liable for employees getting shot, mugged, hurt, etc.

Your wife is choosing to work at a place that is unsafe, disgusting, unfair, and whatever else. There are hundreds of other comparable jobs in the Orlando area, at nicer places. Yeah so she might not be able to start as a manager somewhere else ... but she might make more money as a server at a nicer place, AND might be safe! Guess you fail to see that logic though. Stop placing the blame on Denny's, and take a look at yourselves!

Well I had to force my fiancee to quit now. This was the last straw: Yesterday when she got off work we had to go to the hospital to make sure our baby was okay. There had been a walk-out, and she followed them out to write down their license plate number. On her way back in, some guy hit her and she got knocked up against a wall and hit in the face. There was a fight going on that came out of nowhere. I don't think the guy did it on purpose, at least I hope not. With the UCF games starting this place is getting worse with all the drunks.

They are supposed to be getting security there for nights but because of the hurricanes all the cops are busy. I told her to call and tell them she's not going into work anymore because it is too dangerous.

John,

I know exactly where this Denny's is. I used to live off Econ Trail right across from VCC. If I remember correctly, back in '98-'99 this place was a dump. I see nothing has changed.

Your fiancee has several complaints here:

1) Being scheduled and working in excess of 40 hrs per week without compensation (this is a big no-no).

2) GM's violation of doctor's recommended workload.

3) Possible sexual harrassment, or at the very least hostile work environment.

She's obviously a good employee if she was promoted to management from a server. Here's what you need to do:

1) Document everything that has happened up to this point. Be as specific as possible including dates, times, people involved.

2) Contact Corporate HR, or whatever Denny's has in place for employee complaints and concerns (don't report to the GM or his superior, go above them).

Florida is a Right to Work state. This means that your fiancee can be terminated for any reason, and possibly not be eligible for unemployment compensation. Better to get these things on record with Corp before the GM tries to terminate her for some unfounded reason.

Good luck, and let's all pray Ivan goes west.

Paul.

Obviously, you have no clue at all.

First of all, I was a restaurant manager for many years in the Orlando area. I went through the same thing. I worked for a restaurant for 5 years with no write ups at all, I did my job and was dedicated. As soon as the owner found out I was pregnant he went after me big time. The stress caused me to go into labor at 8 months.

As a man, you have no idea how hard it would be for this woman to just quit and:

1. LOSE HER HEALTH INSURANCE....hello? Anyone home?

2. And to try get another job while she is VISIBLY PREGNANT....duh......Even though there are discrimination laws, it doesn't matter. You can rarely get a job if you're visibly pregnant because the potential employer knows that you're gonna be on maternity leave soon.

Think before you open your mouth.

This site is also meant to provide "consumer suggestions" and other feedback to those posting such complaints, as a means of trying to resolve the situation or make it better. If you don't want advice to others, then why did you post it in this forum? And if your wife is leaving after only one more month, then why is this such a big deal anyway?

Reasons why she is still working there:

One: She has less than 1 month before she leaves b/c of the pregnancy.

Two: She hasn't been a manager for long enough to go somewhere else and get a job as a manager/ with same pay.

Three: Health insurance ain't cheap- at least they provide that.

This site is meant for people with any kind of problems related to a business to be able to post that problem for the public. Maybe you enjoy seeing people taken advantage of and feel this unfairness in a workplace should be overlooked, but I strongly disagree. I just wanted to get my word out there, that's all.

Do you mean to tell me that in the huge metropolis of Orlando, Denny's is the ONLY place for your wife to work? If working there is soooo miserable, unsafe, disgusting, sexist, etc... then why not just quit and work somewhere else? Restaurant jobs are a dime a dozen in Orlando ... she can just walk in to the restaurant of her choice and walk out 15 minutes later with a new job. So why not quit your complaining and get the ball rolling?!