I go to my home group on Fridays. Sometimes I walk. Sometimes I ride my bicycle. Sometimes I ride my motorcycle. When I walk or bicycle, I stop at a fast food place to use the restroom, get some fluids, and I generally eat dinner while I am there. Over the months I have watched the turnover in employees.

New employees come in and are unsure what to do. In a week or so they are competent at the standard stuff, like taking orders and ensure the food is served. The owner always hovers nearby and when questions arise he typically says something like “I’ve shown you how to do this.” He motivates the employees to be self-sufficient. They work to learn, yet seem worried they might do something wrong. Many do not make it through their first month.

In about a month they can handle nearly anything and I see them smile and they begin joking around with each other. This is the happy time. Personally, I pick up on the vibe and find more enjoyment from visiting this place during the happy times.

However, by the second month the next cycle begins. Consistently I see the owner take employees off to the side and lecture them regarding issues. It is a small place so I frequently hear their conversation. I’ve heard the manager give warnings to employees for being too friendly with customers. I’ve heard warning about employees not getting food to customers fast enough, when they cannot serve anything until it comes out of the kitchen. I have learned to recognize the cycle. Around the second month on the job everyone starts getting warnings about some aspect of their behavior. I’ve also heard the manager say many times, “I’ve given you one warning. I’ll give you a second warning if I see you not do this right. Then, if there is a third time you’ll be gone.”

Last week I heard him give one of the fastests, happiests, most enthusiastic employees I’ve seen there her second warning even though she protested that she was just doing what he had told her to do. This week she was not there. Instead, there were two brand new employees trying to learn how to take orders and work the cash register.

I think I have seen this cycle often enough so I no longer want to support this shop.