Fast Food, Faster Decision Making
Tonight's episode of Undercover Boss, at a new night -- Fridays rather than Sundays -- was fun to watch. The pace was fast and the featured boss, Rick Silva, CEO of Checkers and Rally's fast food restaurants, didn't mince words like they were just ground beef. I loved the part where Rick, in disguise, tore into a boss who was treating an employee badly to the point of making that worker cry.
"Shut This Restaurant Down!"
Rick Silva gets his disguise on to become Alex Garcia and heads out to for training. Todd, his trainer, who asks if he's "the new guy," sets to work with fry station and grilling training. When Rick asks Todd some questions about his life and Todd tries to answer, Stevens, Todd's boss, is not happy and expects Todd to move like a machine. He ends up balling out Todd so harshly and disrespectfully that Todd goes to stand outside for a good cry. Of course, Rick as Alex is right there and he finds out from Todd that Todd wasn't given proper training, just as Rick/Alex thought from what he saw in the burger kitchen.
Channeling Gordon Ramsay, Rick ends up shutting down the restaurant. The staff are all gathered around Rick and he assures them they'll be paid and will still have a job. He just wants to bring in a team of general managers to get this place back on track.
Out of Cover a Little Early
Unlike the standard format of Undercover Boss, Rick had to reveal his true identity a little early. But, he still ends up going back in disguise as Alex as he's trying to learn more about his other restaurants' operations. He bonds with the staff there, especially Joanne, who patiently teaches him how to make a "Checker burger," even though Rick can't get past taking frozen patties out of a plastic bag at that point.
After working right in the kitchens and also directing the general manager team to revamp an entire restaurant, Rick ends up exhausted when he reaches his hotel room. "It's been a long week," he tells the camera.
The episode ends with Alex Garcia revealed to general managers and burger makers alike, and everyone who hadn't already witnessed the earlier reveal looks incredibly shocked. As per Undercover Boss fashion, Rick rewards some employees with raises as well as some cash. He also makes sure to set up a new training program with a focus on respect for all employees. That is important to Rick Silva since he grew up bullied and taunted with Hispanic racial slurs. Great episode ending!
What are your thoughts on this Undercover Boss episode?
