The Aftermath
I was involved in a little bit of controversy recently with my dad being laid off from his job with Chili's Restaurants and Brinker International after working for them for over 21 years. In response, I posted a blog about how angry and upset I was with the company for their decision to do this, and almost immediately after posting it (roughly four hours... no kidding) my dad received a phone call from the company saying they discovered it and it needed to be taken down.
They told him that someone from the test kitchens (where new entrees are developed and tested) came across it, and due to its sensitive nature, it shouldn’t be seen by anyone. Apparently no one, not even myself nor my own family, was supposed to know about my dad being laid off until an official announcement was to be made from the heads of the company.
I found this to be rather odd since I do not personally know anyone associated with Chili’s or Brinker who would read my blog, let alone someone who works in the test kitchens. That mystery didn’t last very long, for later I discovered that it hadn’t been an employee who read my blog… rather, a computer software program used by the communications department of the company that monitors such websites like Myspace.com and Livejournal.com for phrases that contain the words “Chili’s” and “Brinker” - and the operator of the software can pinpoint exactly where those words were used and see what was written about them. So, that meant someone I didn’t know found what I wrote, printed it off, and read it word-for-word to the exact guys I had written about - my dad’s bosses.
This is the infamous entry that started it all:
Breaking news to report, my dear friends...
After 21 years of loyal service to Chili's Restaurants and the Brinker International Corporation, my father was suddenly and unexpectedly terminated. In layman's terms, folks... he was fired.
Now one may think for someone who's worked for a company for such a long time, to be suddenly let go would be reason for their life to be over as they know it... but strangely, my dad was rather pleased by the decision. He acted as if he had just been emancipated... no longer under the rule of one of the most egotistical and self-centered men in America: his boss. I've never met the guy, but I already hate him. My dad's record proves he was one of the best in the business, and now this pompous jerk decides that he's expendable? How such a person is able to sleep at night is beyond me.
What baffles me even more is how my dad reacted through it. He broke the news to me with a smile on his face, saying he was actually glad to no longer work for them. Don't get me wrong, my dad adored working for Chili's and strived to make sure their brand was the best in the business, but once he reached corporate status, everything was different for him. He disliked the work, and most of all... the guy he worked for. And my dad isn't the only one who hates this schmuck... the whole COMPANY despises him. Yet nothing can be done to remove him because his work DOES get results, and in this day and age, results are all that matter.
Along with my dad, several other employees he works with are also scheduled to be terminated, along with several others resigning. This is apparently due to some "re-constructing" plan for the higher-level employees of the company that's been going on for a few months now. All along my dad shared with us his disapproval of the idea, and stated that it would probably lead to him leaving the company himself. However, it wasn't long before that decision was made for him, which brings us where we are today.
So, the decision has been made that we return to live in our former homeland of Tampa Bay, Florida. How ironic is it that such a terrible series of events end up to be potentially the best moment of our lives? Ever since we left Florida to California in 2001, my mother, brother, and myself swore to never forget the life we once had, and wished to return once again. After five years, it appears our wishes have been granted. I don't know whether to be happy or sad... but right now my senses tell me to be happy, so I'm sticking to that.
Currently, I am in Tampa Bay for my Spring Break, and things could not be any better. I saw the Yankees yesterday, and had a lovely dinner with my family that night. Of all places, it had to be at Maggiano's, a Brinker restaurant my dad has the privilege of receiving 100% complimentary meals from. The twelve of us all ended up with a tab of just over $700, something my dad wanted to do in order to squeeze every last remaining cent of his free meal allowance. This is to continue on for the remainder of the week, eating at as many Brinker concepts as possible.
I love Florida, and Florida loves me back. It's good to finally go back home once again.
Needless to say, I was pretty damn upset after learning all of this. I felt as if they were attempting to silence me… a blatant effort to deny me of my first amendment rights. To be honest, I actually had a slight suspicion that something like that would happen, but cast it aside for thinking how ridiculous it would have been. I should have thought twice about that.
But, rest assured, I am not sorry for what I said, nor am I sorry for whom I said it about. Those individuals not only screwed my dad, but they screwed me, and the rest of my family. For my entire life, my dad has worked for Chili’s. You could ask anyone he’s ever known who he was, and they’d tell you his commitment to the brand was legendary. He was in control of markets and regions that were #1 in every aspect of the title. They grossed millions of dollars, and if it hadn’t been for his position, there’d be no way in hell they would have been as successful as they were. My dad was what every company in America needs - a leader. You can trust me on that more than anyone.
But now his service, his sacrifice, his gratitude… all the things he put forth to his career so that he could be the best he thought he should be… now they mean nothing. And who else to thing such a thing than the people he’s been working for all along.
Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t be upset. Chili’s and Brinker are dead to me now.
They told him that someone from the test kitchens (where new entrees are developed and tested) came across it, and due to its sensitive nature, it shouldn’t be seen by anyone. Apparently no one, not even myself nor my own family, was supposed to know about my dad being laid off until an official announcement was to be made from the heads of the company.
I found this to be rather odd since I do not personally know anyone associated with Chili’s or Brinker who would read my blog, let alone someone who works in the test kitchens. That mystery didn’t last very long, for later I discovered that it hadn’t been an employee who read my blog… rather, a computer software program used by the communications department of the company that monitors such websites like Myspace.com and Livejournal.com for phrases that contain the words “Chili’s” and “Brinker” - and the operator of the software can pinpoint exactly where those words were used and see what was written about them. So, that meant someone I didn’t know found what I wrote, printed it off, and read it word-for-word to the exact guys I had written about - my dad’s bosses.
This is the infamous entry that started it all:
Breaking news to report, my dear friends...
After 21 years of loyal service to Chili's Restaurants and the Brinker International Corporation, my father was suddenly and unexpectedly terminated. In layman's terms, folks... he was fired.
Now one may think for someone who's worked for a company for such a long time, to be suddenly let go would be reason for their life to be over as they know it... but strangely, my dad was rather pleased by the decision. He acted as if he had just been emancipated... no longer under the rule of one of the most egotistical and self-centered men in America: his boss. I've never met the guy, but I already hate him. My dad's record proves he was one of the best in the business, and now this pompous jerk decides that he's expendable? How such a person is able to sleep at night is beyond me.
What baffles me even more is how my dad reacted through it. He broke the news to me with a smile on his face, saying he was actually glad to no longer work for them. Don't get me wrong, my dad adored working for Chili's and strived to make sure their brand was the best in the business, but once he reached corporate status, everything was different for him. He disliked the work, and most of all... the guy he worked for. And my dad isn't the only one who hates this schmuck... the whole COMPANY despises him. Yet nothing can be done to remove him because his work DOES get results, and in this day and age, results are all that matter.
Along with my dad, several other employees he works with are also scheduled to be terminated, along with several others resigning. This is apparently due to some "re-constructing" plan for the higher-level employees of the company that's been going on for a few months now. All along my dad shared with us his disapproval of the idea, and stated that it would probably lead to him leaving the company himself. However, it wasn't long before that decision was made for him, which brings us where we are today.
So, the decision has been made that we return to live in our former homeland of Tampa Bay, Florida. How ironic is it that such a terrible series of events end up to be potentially the best moment of our lives? Ever since we left Florida to California in 2001, my mother, brother, and myself swore to never forget the life we once had, and wished to return once again. After five years, it appears our wishes have been granted. I don't know whether to be happy or sad... but right now my senses tell me to be happy, so I'm sticking to that.
Currently, I am in Tampa Bay for my Spring Break, and things could not be any better. I saw the Yankees yesterday, and had a lovely dinner with my family that night. Of all places, it had to be at Maggiano's, a Brinker restaurant my dad has the privilege of receiving 100% complimentary meals from. The twelve of us all ended up with a tab of just over $700, something my dad wanted to do in order to squeeze every last remaining cent of his free meal allowance. This is to continue on for the remainder of the week, eating at as many Brinker concepts as possible.
I love Florida, and Florida loves me back. It's good to finally go back home once again.
Needless to say, I was pretty damn upset after learning all of this. I felt as if they were attempting to silence me… a blatant effort to deny me of my first amendment rights. To be honest, I actually had a slight suspicion that something like that would happen, but cast it aside for thinking how ridiculous it would have been. I should have thought twice about that.
But, rest assured, I am not sorry for what I said, nor am I sorry for whom I said it about. Those individuals not only screwed my dad, but they screwed me, and the rest of my family. For my entire life, my dad has worked for Chili’s. You could ask anyone he’s ever known who he was, and they’d tell you his commitment to the brand was legendary. He was in control of markets and regions that were #1 in every aspect of the title. They grossed millions of dollars, and if it hadn’t been for his position, there’d be no way in hell they would have been as successful as they were. My dad was what every company in America needs - a leader. You can trust me on that more than anyone.
But now his service, his sacrifice, his gratitude… all the things he put forth to his career so that he could be the best he thought he should be… now they mean nothing. And who else to thing such a thing than the people he’s been working for all along.
Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t be upset. Chili’s and Brinker are dead to me now.