Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,082
Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 6, 2016 19:22:15 GMT
Update 6-8-2016: Today I finally received a response to my email. Here's what they wrote:
Thank you for taking the time to contact Denny's Corporation regarding your recent visit. Your feedback is appreciated and will be used to improve the level of service we provide our guests who dine with us.
I sincerely apologize that you arrived to eat to find only one associate there all alone. Your comments have been documented and forwarded to the executive members of our leadership team and the franchise owner.
I understand that this apology won’t erase your unpleasant experience. It is my hope that you will give Denny’s another opportunity to serve you. I'll keep you updated as this develops.
Update 6-7-2016: I STILL haven't heard one word from Denny's corporate office. This particular location is a franchise, but I don't know who owns it. This location doesn't have a FB page, but Denny's does. I'll post the situation on their page and see what happens. I'll come back and let you know.
Original post: Late last night I decided to go to Denny's for dinner. Before I could even get out of my car a female employee approached my car and told me that the restaurant was closed.
I got out of my car so I could talk to her and find out the details. She shared with me that the cook had left as it was the end of his shift, another server had left as it was the end of her shift as well.
The additional staff that was scheduled to work hadn't shown up and she was unable to reach anyone on the management team by phone so she was there alone. She didn't want to be in the restaurant alone and so she was sitting outside the restaurant with the phone telling people they were closed. She couldn't lock herself in the restaurant because she didn't have a key.
She told me that this had happened at least one other time and that she'd sat in the parking lot all night waiting for other staff to show up but no one came.
I was very concerned for her safety. Sadly, we live in an era where random shootings are becoming commonplace.
I emailed Denny's corporate office explaining the situation, but I haven't heard back from them. WWYD?
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Post by mlynn on Jun 6, 2016 19:30:47 GMT
I would have contacted corporate, but I think I would have called. But I am old.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 6, 2016 19:46:18 GMT
I don't know what I would have done, but if I was her in that situation, I think I would be calling the manager of the restaurant and demanding either they would be coming to the restaurant with me, or I might call the police and ask them about the safety of such a situation. Perhaps??
There are probably people who work in gas stations, etc. who work by themselves in the middle of the night, but I'm assuming they have some training on what to do if anything bad happens because it's part of their job to be alone-- and hopefully they have a way to lock the door if necessary. For there to NOT be something like that in this case is pretty horrible, in my opinion. -------------------------------------------------
Now that I've talked myself through that whole scenario, I think if I was a customer like you were, I would probably e-mail or call corporate about it. Because I really do think it's a (bad) management issue for that restaurant (hopefully it's not a corporate policy!), and hopefully (maybe?) my contacting the corporate office could help fix that.
ETA: I obviously missed the part of the post where it said she couldn't reach anyone on the management phone list. But that's why I'd call the police if I was her; to see what, if anything THEY would suggest I do in that circumstance. And afterwards? I think I'd be looking for a different job, if at all possible. The entire situation is pretty shitty management all around.
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Jun 6, 2016 19:49:16 GMT
Most restaurants & businesses give their emergency contact info to the police. I would have called them!
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Post by annabella on Jun 6, 2016 19:49:58 GMT
That was nice of you to email corporate on her behalf.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,090
Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Jun 6, 2016 19:51:18 GMT
I don't know what I would have done, but if I was her in that situation, I think I would be calling the manager of the restaurant and demanding either they would be coming to the restaurant with me, or I might call the police and ask them about the safety of such a situation. Perhaps?? There are probably people who work in gas stations, etc. who work by themselves in the middle of the night, but I'm assuming they have some training on what to do if anything bad happens because it's part of their job to be alone-- and hopefully they have a way to lock the door if necessary. For there to NOT be something like that in this case is pretty horrible, in my opinion. ------------------------------------------------- Now that I've talked myself through that whole scenario, I think if I was a customer like you were, I would probably e-mail or call corporate about it. Because I really do think it's a (bad) management issue for that restaurant (hopefully it's not a corporate policy!), and hopefully (maybe?) my contacting the corporate office could help fix that. She couldn't reach the manager and she knows the situation is unsafe. What would you expect the police to do?
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,171
Jun 26, 2014 8:22:26 GMT
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Post by Gennifer on Jun 6, 2016 19:56:14 GMT
I can't believe that the two other employees left her there alone!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 19:27:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 19:59:30 GMT
I am surprised there is not some type of protocol on what she should do. Generally it is that the prior shift cannot leave until the next shift shows up. And usually each shift has some leader/manager-type position at least (someone with a key, etc)
I probably would have stayed with her and called any corporate emergency line that could be found. And possibly called the no-emergency police number to ask them to driveby.
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Post by Flibbertigibbet on Jun 6, 2016 20:05:28 GMT
I would have told her to call the police and stay with her until they got there. She was being responsible, but it's not her responsibility. The police would handle it and I'm sure the company would get in trouble,
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jun 6, 2016 20:25:06 GMT
So how did the restaurant get locked up? the other employees locked it up before they left? and she went out too?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jun 6, 2016 20:28:34 GMT
^^^ cindyupnorth, she said it WASN'T locked and that she COULDN'T lock it. That was one of the problems.
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Jun 6, 2016 20:30:05 GMT
Under the circumstances, if I were that waitress, I'd have left. I'd be damned if I sat there all night by myself.
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,082
Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 6, 2016 21:00:58 GMT
So how did the restaurant get locked up? the other employees locked it up before they left? and she went out too? The restaurant in question is a Denny's. They're open 24 hours. There is a lock on the front door, but the waitress had no key.
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,082
Jun 27, 2014 4:11:36 GMT
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 6, 2016 21:04:35 GMT
Under the circumstances, if I were that waitress, I'd have left. I'd be damned if I sat there all night by myself. If she had left the entire restaurant would have been left unattended and unlocked. She was in a very difficult situation. I did call her back after about an hour to check on her and she was still there alone.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 19:27:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 21:07:10 GMT
I would have told her to call the police and stay with her until they got there. She was being responsible, but it's not her responsibility. The police would handle it and I'm sure the company would get in trouble, What would the police do? In trouble for what,!exactly?
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 6, 2016 21:08:03 GMT
At this point I think I'd call corporate and if I got nowhere there I'd head to social media. That's the best way to get their attention.
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Post by melanell on Jun 6, 2016 21:09:55 GMT
Under the circumstances, if I were that waitress, I'd have left. I'd be damned if I sat there all night by myself. If she had left the entire restaurant would have been left unattended and unlocked. She was in a very difficult situation. I did call her back after about an hour to check on her and she was still there alone. I'm sorry, but if I thought my safety could be in jeopardy by staying there alone, I really wouldn't care if the damn restaurant was unlocked and unattended. A waitress is very low on the ladder at Denny's. It is in no way her responsibility to deal with this issue. The sad part is that she may very well have felt that her job could be in jeopardy if she left, and if that was the case, then I am even more upset for her to be in that situation.
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Jun 6, 2016 21:10:36 GMT
Under the circumstances, if I were that waitress, I'd have left. I'd be damned if I sat there all night by myself. If she had left the entire restaurant would have been left unattended and unlocked. She was in a very difficult situation. I did call her back after about an hour to check on her and she was still there alone. I understand that. However she was left in a position where she sat with their property or protected her safety. I'd have chosen my safety. I'd leave a message for my manager and leave.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 6, 2016 21:15:37 GMT
I can't believe that the two other employees left her there alone! That was my thought too. No way would I have left a woman there by herself.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 6, 2016 21:19:37 GMT
I probably would have put a huge closed sign on the door and waited in my car.
ETA: I would have had a huge piece of their silk chocolate pie and then put the sign up and waited in my car.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,831
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Jun 6, 2016 21:34:26 GMT
I probably would have put a huge closed sign on the door and waited in my car. ETA: I would have had a huge piece of their silk chocolate pie and then put the sign up and waited in my car. I like you ETA. Lol!
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 6, 2016 22:31:32 GMT
Under the circumstances, if I were that waitress, I'd have left. I'd be damned if I sat there all night by myself. If she had left the entire restaurant would have been left unattended and unlocked. She was in a very difficult situation. I did call her back after about an hour to check on her and she was still there alone. You are a sweetheart! It was nice of you to check back with her. I think at that point, if I were the waitress, I'd call 911. Let them beat up on the management.
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Post by mikklynn on Jun 6, 2016 22:33:13 GMT
At this point I think I'd call corporate and if I got nowhere there I'd head to social media. That's the best way to get their attention. Brilliant! I am too old to think of social media - that seems to get attention in a hurry.
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msliz
Drama Llama
The Procrastinator
Posts: 6,419
Jun 26, 2014 21:32:34 GMT
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Post by msliz on Jun 6, 2016 22:45:39 GMT
At this point I think I'd call corporate and if I got nowhere there I'd head to social media. That's the best way to get their attention. Brilliant! I am too old to think of social media - that seems to get attention in a hurry. And announce to the world that this Denny's location has the doors unlocked while it's currently unstaffed ? Yep, that'll get some attention quick!
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Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,314
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on Jun 6, 2016 23:23:47 GMT
I think at that point, if I were the waitress, I'd call 911. Let them beat up on the management. 911 for what? That's for life and death emergencies. Her life wasn't in danger. Her co-workers didn't show up for work. She was hired to work and so she stayed but I assume she was unable to work the kitchen and serve food by herself. I don't think it's against the law for a female to work by herself at night is it? Why exactly would 911 have to be called?
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,423
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jun 6, 2016 23:28:39 GMT
Is there a labour standards in the state? There are laws here about workers working alone. Reporting that route could get them heavily fined where I am.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Jun 6, 2016 23:31:13 GMT
911 for what? That's for life and death emergencies. Her life wasn't in danger. Her co-workers didn't show up for work. She was hired to work and so she stayed but I assume she was unable to work the kitchen and serve food by herself. I don't think it's against the law for a female to work by herself at night is it? Why exactly would 911 have to be called? Well, while I don't think it's a dangerous emergency. I DO think it's an emergency, leaving an establishment, unlocked and unattended. I would have called the police and asked them what they would do if she left it unattended? you can't tell me that NO ONE responded to her? And how would sitting out front have been any safer then sitting INSIDE the restaurant. This is just crazy!!!
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 6, 2016 23:31:16 GMT
I think at that point, if I were the waitress, I'd call 911. Let them beat up on the management. 911 for what? That's for life and death emergencies. Her life wasn't in danger. Her co-workers didn't show up for work. She was hired to work and so she stayed but I assume she was unable to work the kitchen and serve food by herself. I don't think it's against the law for a female to work by herself at night is it? Why exactly would 911 have to be called? I agree that it isn't an emergency, but perhaps it could turn into one. One of our Denny's is in a particularly seedy area and there is no way I would be there by myself. Perhaps the police have some way to lock the door. Or maybe they could give her good advice. She is somewhere between an emergency and someone calling about not getting what they ordered in the drive-thru.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Jun 6, 2016 23:43:58 GMT
Before calling 911 I'd try to call the alarm company (assuming they have one), they would have emergency contact information (likely more than what the waitress had access to).
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,631
Jun 26, 2014 1:03:18 GMT
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Post by edie3 on Jun 6, 2016 23:54:18 GMT
Bless her heart. She doesn't get paid enough to have to deal with that! And shame on management for not being available.
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