Pastor Alois Bell apologizes for getting Applebee’s waitress fired.
Really? New York restaurants are now suggesting 30% tip for waiters.
Woman leaves ‘Single mom sorry’ tip on a $138 bill. Reddit post …
God insists on taking more victims…
Alas God is not in a forgiving mood as the storm over the waitress, Chelsea Welch who was fired by Applebee’s after she posted snide comments on her tip receipt courtesy of recalcitrant diner Pastor Alois Bell.
By now with the web going in overload reaction (see the 600 comments plus mounting here from our earlier article) after Chelsea ended up getting fired after Pastor Alois Bell called the outlet to complain further (God is just not in a good mood this week kids….blah) Applebee’s it seems has been forced to reckon with the tide of commentators who reckon that if anyone is to blame it sure isn’t Chelsea but god Pastor Alois Bell herself.
Offered Applebee’s this morning via facebook:
We appreciate the chance to explain our franchisee’s action in this unfortunate situation.
Please let us assure you that Applebee’s and every one of our franchisees values our hard working team members and the amazing job they do serving our guests. We recognize the extraordinary effort required and the tremendous contribution they make, and appreciate your recognition and support of our colleagues.
At the same time, as we know you will agree, the guests who visit Applebee’s — people like you — expect and deserve to be treated with professionalism and care in everything we do. That is a universal standard in the hospitality business. That includes respecting and protecting the privacy of every guest, which is why our franchisees who own and operate Applebee’s have strict policies to protect personal information — even guest’s names.
With that in mind, here is what happened in St. Louis:
– A guest questioned the tip automatically attached to her large party’s bill by writing: “I give God 10%. Why do you get 18?” on the check.
– A different server, who did not even wait on the group, photographed the receipt, posted the photo online and commented about the incident.
– The guest subsequently heard from friends who identified her from the posting, where her name is clearly visible, and the restaurant was notified. There was no further communication with the guest.
– The team member was asked about posting the receipt and admitted she was responsible.
– When she was hired, the team member was provided the franchisee’s employee hand book which includes their social media policy and states:
“Employees must honor the privacy rights of APPLEBEE’s and its employees by seeking permission before writing about or displaying internal APPLEBEE’S happenings that might be
considered to be a breach of privacy and confidentiality. This shall include, but not be limited to, posting of photographs, video, or audio of APPLEBEE’S employees or its customers,
suppliers, agents or competitors, without first obtaining written approval from the Vice President of Operations. The policy goes on to specify: Employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
– As a result of her admission to violating a clear company policy intended to safeguard guests, the team member is no longer employed by the franchisee.
Our franchisees are committed to acting in the best interests of guests and team members. This is a regrettable situation and we wish it had never happened. However, the disregard for an important policy left the franchisee no choice but to take the action they did.
We hope this provides you with some additional insight. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to explain the facts involved.
Nonetheless many did not necessarily take too kindly to Applebee’s interpretation of events.
I’ve highlighted some choice responses:
Really? Seriously? Shame on you, Applebees.
Applebee’s should just suck it up say they made a mistake (kind of like that pastor should have done) and beg for forgiveness. No matter what spin you put on it you are going to lose. There are way too many people who are against you and the pastor and this story will pass around for a while. Then someone will do a follow up story and it will start all over again.
i’m done with applebee’s … if you go to the website hire back Chelsea… seems like this applebees has posted customer compliments written on a receipt with the persons first and last name clearly readable… so the excuse of firing her was clearly bogus…
And these are just the polite comments kids…
Gawker also explains the following:
Speaking with Consumerist yesterday, Welch said she checked the employee handbook to make sure she “didn’t break any specific guidelines.”
But in its statement, Applebee’s disputes this, saying Welch violated the company’s social media policy, which states: “Employees must honor the privacy rights of APPLEBEE’s and its employees by seeking permission before writing about or displaying internal APPLEBEE’S happenings that might be considered to be a breach of privacy and confidentiality.”
The policy does not specifically refer to receipts, only to “photographs, video, or audio” of employees, customers, suppliers, agents, or competitors. Additionally, “permission” is defined as “written approval from the Vice President of Operations.”
The punishment for violating this policy is “disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.”
Honor the customer but not honor the employee’s need to make an honest living?
So much for capitalism and a Pastor who uses the tithe of her faith to pull in muscle and rank at the expense of an Applebee’s employee.
Will you be filing for a job at Applebee’s anytime soon kids?
Her church is probably an old Bar B Q rib store front that she use to run that didn’t make any money so she made it into a church. What color is her Cadillac ???
Burn in hell Pastor Bell
Well since I’m also a food server, I will not be eating at Applebee’s again. I can’t believe this girl was fired. This women is a person who serves god??? Really. A food server is the most thankless job anyone can have. You can’t please everyone but you do your best to try. She should have just asked a manager to take the tip off the check. It’s not like she doesn’t claim her eating expenses at the end of the year. This girl probably needed the job. SHAME on you APPLEBEES. I’m sure I’m not the only food server who feels this way!! I guess you will lose more than one customer after this story. So fire them! Do what you think is right. We will do what we think is right and stand by the food server and all employees who were effected by this.
Nigs don’t tip, everyone knows that.
The pastor DID ask Applebee to fire the waitress. https://scallywagandvagabond.com/2013/01/pastor-alois-bell-apologizes-for-getting-applebees-waitress-fired/
for those of you unaware, she scrawled “I give god 10%, why do you get 18?” on it, and signed it “pastor” alois bell.
note that most wait staff get paid $2.13 an hour, and live off their
tips, which they have to pay taxes on even if they don’t get them.
– waitress shows it to friend she works with.
– friend / server she works with (chelsea welch) posts it to reddit.
– the mocking of “pastor” bell begins.
– “pastor” bell gets informed she’s “viral” by a friend.
– “pastor” bell demands that the manager and everyone working that shift be fired.
– applebees fires chelsea.
– chelsea posts this to reddit as well.
– the internet explodes.
– “pastor” bell starts trying to cover her butt, and fails miserably at it.
– applebees management makes several stupid comments.
– applebees twitter explodes with cries of foul.
– applebees facebook explodes with thousands of posts crying foul.
– applebees pr department handles this situation poorly.
– worse than the westboro baptist church would. (at least they tip)
– bus boy debunks “pastor” bell’s claim she left a 6 dollar cash tip.
– christians start defending themselves. (though no one blames them for this woman’s behavior, we know it’s not indicative)
– applebees corporate webserver dies.
(presumably under the load created by their comment form)
http://sylverstone.com/general-chatter/applebees-v-s-the-internet-starring-pastor-aloise-bell-as-the-villan/
Great play by play… Love how Alois wanted EVERYONE on shift fired… Come on, what did the dishwasher do to you???
The pastor did not ask for the employee to be terminated. This is Applebees policy. Yes the pastor may have used poor judgement in the tip writing. But the waitress who posted the slip was entirely to blame. Even if the pasor did suggest this, she has every right, the receipt was between the cutomer and waiter. Not for everyone, me, you or anyone else to see. The problem here is the we are seeing this and it should’nt have been. Lets all try and see the facts here. God help us all to stop being so quick to be one-sided. Theres two sides to the story.
You’re a moron.
Well, my comment was just (trying to be) being fair to all parties. Maybe she left $6 on the table, maybe not. But If she left that money, then that was good. I am just taking what other articles mentioned. And Yes, I think the pastor left a rude comment – that was the reason why It became controversial, right? The eighteen percent of $34.93 bill will give you $6.29, ok, she may had left 17% – my point, it was good she gave a tip. But, as I have said, she should not left that nasty comment. You may be right that she only cares about being fake and saving her face —my point is that everyone has had mistakes and I am just trying to be fair to all involved parties by figuring why this “controversy” happened.
You really think that she left a cash tip and a snide/ rude comment? A $6 dollar tip on her $30+ dollar bill which would be more than 15% and contrary to the snide remark? C’mon people, the pastor does not give 2 flucks about her snide remark, lack of tip, or generally be-atchery, she cares about being fake and saving face.
In fairness to all parties, The pastor mentioned she left a $6 tip on the table, which was a good thing coz the waitress tried her best to satisfy the customers needs. But, she should had not made such a NASTY comment. On the other hand, Chelsea should have not posted the receipt or if she really wanted that bad to post it, then she should cover any identification that may lead to identifying the involved parties. Yes, the pastor has the right to complain to the Applebee but she doesnt have the right to tell them to terminate any of the employees. Regarding the Applebee’s action towards the employee, they do have the perogative to do or take any actions done by their employees (as long as it involves the company) which includes reprimanding disciplinary actions up to termination because it is part of the handbook and contract between them and their employees. In my own opinion, job termination would have not occured if the pastor didn’t suggest it. I guess, Applebee’s decision to terminate one of their employee was a bad one coz they did not only lost 1 customer but more than one.