Barbaric

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, April 14th, 2009 - 22 comments
Categories: business, national/act government, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

Restaurant Association chairman Mike Egan on how to treat your staff during a recession:

“if some of our employees cannot adapt fast enough we will drag them out of the cave and leave them to the sabre-tooth tigers and find staff who can and will adapt”.

Most of the people he’s talking about are on minimum wage or close to it, and nearly all of them will be on 90 day fire at will periods.

As the National-led government contemplates further attacks on our rights at work it’s worth bearing in mind just whose interests they’re working for.

UPDATE: Seems Mike Egan owns One Red Dog and Monsoon Poon. I’d encourage Standard readers to take their custom elsewhere.

22 comments on “Barbaric ”

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  1. Kevin Welsh 1
    14 April 2009 at 12:48 pm

    And those who run businesses in the hospitality industry wonder why they cannot find good employees.

    With neanderthals like Mike Egan making comments like this, is it any wonder?

  2. Peter Johns - bigoted troll in jerkoff mode 2
    14 April 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Maybe said tounge in cheek.
    What about the employers rights to have adequat staff that will keep them in business.
    With un-employment rising getting better staff should be a bit easier to find.

    Also agree there are bastards as bosses, but not all as this site seems to suggest.

  3. Rich 3
    14 April 2009 at 2:08 pm

    Anyone know what restuarant he runs?

  4. Jasper 4
    14 April 2009 at 2:14 pm

    From companies.govt.nz

    Egan, Michael John

    One Red Dog
    Monsoon Poon
    202 The Terrace Villas
    Boulcott Street Bistro

    I’ve no idea what the other two restaurants are “runs five wellington restaurants and a serviced apartment business”

    Not that I care much. One Red Dog is the pits with shitty service, Monsoon Poon is bland and Boulcott Street Bistro seems to only be frequented by people of the white haired variety.

    • Hypocrasy 4.1
      14 April 2009 at 4:18 pm

      The left are so f…ing full of double standards, If some one had said “brown skinned” people instead of “white haired” you would have had your balls torn out and labelled a racist. Maybe you should change your name to double standards

  5. Jasper 5
    14 April 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Rich

    One Red Dog
    Boulcott Street Bistro
    Monsoon Poon

    I can’t find the other 2 as quoted “5 restaurants” but the serviced apartment is at 202 The Terrace.

    knowing this oik runs ORD and MP, it’s no wonder the service and food at these two restaurants is appalling. I can’t speak for BSB as Im not of the white haired variety that tends to frequent this place.

    • Mike Collins 5.1
      14 April 2009 at 9:38 pm

      Hmm I would completely disagree with your statement about the quality of Monsoon Poon. Every time I have been there I have thoroughly enjoyed it, as has anyone I have spoken to. The fact that there is always a substantial wait to get a table would suggest your views are in the minority Jasper.

      With regards the comments from Egan – I agree with them, if not the way he has put them across. When you have a business to run, in a recession especially, you can not afford slackers and those with a poor attitude on the payroll. Too bloody right they should be replaced with those who will do better.

      I can’t for the life of me see why anyone would want to side with the useless employee – as though they are owed a living by the employer.

  6. Ab 6
    14 April 2009 at 2:31 pm

    Here’s what I get from the article.

    – as a service industry, restaurants employ lots of Gen Y workers, and many of them think the world owes them everything on a silver platter

    – this attitude is not a good thing to have in a service industry during a recession, as restaurants need to keep their customers happy

    – Gen Y workers who think they are doing the restaurant a favour by working there and who think they are doing the customers a favour by bringing them their meals may find themselves replaced by restaurant staff with better customer service skills

    – restaurants need to do customer-service-oriented things like overcompensating for mistakes, offering simple niceties, and examining themselves regularly to ensure they’re offering what customers actually want

    Can someone point to the bit I’m supposed to be shocked and angry about?

    • Quoth the Raven 6.1
      14 April 2009 at 3:21 pm

      How about the ludicrous and insulting nature of your genrealisation about a generation. Or the disrespectful and disparaging nature of the quote – caves, sabre-tooth tigers. Shall I make a sweeping generalisation about members of whatever generation you belong to. Many members of your generation show an utter lack of repsect.

      • Ab 6.1.1
        14 April 2009 at 3:23 pm

        You don’t really get this whole “paraphrasing” thing, do you?

      • Hypocrasy 6.1.2
        14 April 2009 at 4:19 pm

        You have to earn respect darling

        • Maynard J 6.1.2.1
          15 April 2009 at 2:25 pm

          You have to earn respect darling

          Why don’t you start out by learning to spell ‘hypocricy’?

          For all you wondering about the other restaurants – there’s a Monsoon Poon in Auckland (though that might not count, Auckland not Wellington), and there are two One Red Dogs: Blair St and Loaded Hog.

          BSB is top notch grub, Monsoon Pooncan be good too. Firecracker Chicken.

      • pinkie 6.1.3
        15 April 2009 at 10:53 am

        @Quoth the Raven

        Ab seems fairly accurate to me. How about instead of frothing at the mouth about a form of expression, focus on the message: basically “pull your friggin socks up and give people good service if you want a job in the service industry”.

        Generational stuff? get stuffed. there is a “general” character well documented, and the writer to which you so evangelically respond has moderated any sweeping statements with qualifiers to specifically avoid the tar-brush.

  7. Jasper 7
    14 April 2009 at 3:01 pm

    Ugh. Moderation.

  8. lprent 8
    14 April 2009 at 6:30 pm

    For some reason Mike Egan and this latest bit of spam trapped seem to go together.

    Viagra… this is why i always pick my nose….

    Mike Egan seems to have the same sense of marketing. Thought I’d share the spam.

  9. Russell Brown 9
    15 April 2009 at 8:50 am

    Hmm I would completely disagree with your statement about the quality of Monsoon Poon. Every time I have been there I have thoroughly enjoyed it, as has anyone I have spoken to. The fact that there is always a substantial wait to get a table would suggest your views are in the minority Jasper.

    I’ll second Jasper. Monsoon Poon food is generally bland and deeply average, much as you would expect food from a chain restaurant to taste.

    The first 20 ingredients of its ’25 Herb & Spice Indian Lamb Curry’ (“A Monsoon classic”) appeared to be tomato puree the time I ordered it. It was one of the worst curries I’ve ordered at a restaurant. My next visit was merely average.

    And what sort of complete arse would brand his restaurant with “love u long time”? Something a prostitute says?

    I’m guessing Mr Egan does not run things with a lot of love in his heart …

    • Felix 9.1
      15 April 2009 at 11:20 am

      “And what sort of complete arse would brand his restaurant with “love u long time’? Something a prostitute says?”

      Um, the name “Monsoon Poon” might be a clue here…

  10. Crashman 10
    15 April 2009 at 1:08 pm

    I have to say that we have a wee storm in a tea cup here. Mike Egan may seem like a prat, but great piece of marketing by the guy though. No publicity is bad publicity, except cockroaches in the kitchen maybe…

    No matter what generation you come from (Grey haired or Y), I’m sure you expect a certain standard of service when you go to a resturant. You may be getting worked up about the workers here, but you would still grumble if they treat you badly at the resturant. Why can’t the owner make use of the market and go for the best staff available. I’m sure if you were unemployed and a hard worker, you would feel aggrieved if a complete slacker had a job you were far better qualified to do.

    The 90 day rule only applies if you have it in your contract, you are entitled to have it removed. Even if you do sign it, your employer should work with you to ensure that you have a chance to perform your job properly, otherwise they can be had up for unfair dismissal.

    It’s all a case of media hype and a quote probably taken out of context. I agree with Peter Johns who said it was probably said tongue in cheek, but then again, behind every joke it is said there is an element of truth.

  11. Patrick 11
    15 April 2009 at 8:33 pm

    “I’d encourage Standard readers to take their custom elsewhere.”
    yeah – that’s the way – make sure none of the staff have jobs anymore. Great thinking Einstein

    “food is generally bland and deeply average”
    sounds good reason for Mr Egan to throw the chefs out of the cave first?

  12. John Edmundson 12
    16 April 2009 at 1:54 am

    Crashman wrote:
    “The 90 day rule only applies if you have it in your contract, you are entitled to have it removed. Even if you do sign it, your employer should work with you to ensure that you have a chance to perform your job properly, otherwise they can be had up for unfair dismissal.”

    Yes of course it’s a very fair and balanced piece of legislation. I can see all those would-be service workers now, facing rising unemployment and another 100 or so competitors for the job, saying “Sure, I’ll take it, but only if you don’t include the 90 day trial period.” I’m sure that’ll really work out well …
    Cheers,
    John

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