Undercover Boss Peavey Electronics = perfect example of corporate greed (spoiler)

[joshcryer]

Undercover Boss had to actually write an apology letter to how it went down: http://www.cbs.com/shows/undercover_boss/news/1003833/

The Peavey Electronics people act as if they did nothing wrong, while when you watched the episode, you could tell something was happening within the inner workings of the company. You listen to what the employees say "the cutbacks just keep getting worse, I don't know how much longer I can take them" it's clear that they were planning to shut down the various parts of the company from the get go. The Undercover Boss apology acts as if they didn't know it was going to happen. Bullshit.

One woman even said "I'm not sure what to believe but it seems everything is going to China these days." And one of the Peavey guys was like "she doesn't know the full picture!" So it was clearly planned before the episode began filming and they were hoping that by giving money to a few employees and paying off some student loans and shit would make them look good for what they did.

If it's not obvious, Peavey Electronics wound up closing down factories (in particular the factories where people were working who were on the show and had concerns about losing their jobs) and probably got an Indian guy deported. One guy actually had put in his two week notice but they told him to stay on and wound up putting him on a skeleton crew. He was visibly shaken up by the experience.

I watch Undercover Boss because I like to see the attempted mechanization by big CEOs. The only episodes worth watching are the ones with Mayors or publics works people (who don't reward people with money usually but try to fix some local problem going on) and a few smaller time Food Service people (the Pretzel Shop guy is the only one I can think of who I thought did good by his people even if he still paid minimum wage or whatever).

Sorry if I spoiled anything but I had a feeling it was going to end badly because they edited in a lot of the "I think they're going to send our jobs to China" statements, when you'd expect that stuff to be edited out if it went well.

[Suich]

1. That was a very strange show.

The way they treated the employees AFTER they were given $$$ was really sleazy. The caption said Peavey was "trying" to make good on what they promised.

I'm surprised they even aired the show.

[joshcryer]

3. They recorded the stuff.

If they didn't air the show I suspect the employees would've made a ruckas, so CBS waged the positives and negatives and decided if they showed the most negative Peavey edits, they'd at least come off as "credible." To be sure, Undercover Boss is an apologist for corporations, I've only seen a handful of episodes where the people involved weren't screwing over the workers.

[JI7]

2. i only watched a few episodes around the time it first started and couldn't watch anymore

it was usually the same thing. the only ones i saw involved some major corporations and the fake surprise at the end when the ceo gives something to some employees.

[laundry_queen]

4. And it's rare that the CEO gives anything meaningful

I saw a few episodes where people got a gift card for dinner, or one where an employee was given 'a chance to own his own franchise someday if he works hard and comes up with the financing' (how is that any kind of gift?). I had to stop watching. Here were filthy rich people talking about how they didn't realize how hard their front line workers worked, and then shit all over them by giving them a pat on the back, saying, "hey, good job!" and giving them some pittance that probably goes into some corporate expense account just for these kinds of things. One episode I watched where the CEO seemed genuinely moved and gave out large quantities of cash, extra holidays, promises to pay tuitions and promotions, but that was only one. Usually what is given out is a total joke. I had to stop watching in order to not throw something through my tv. These are people who could probably buy a worker a house, or pay off a mortgage, or buy them a reliable car without any dent in their lifestyle whatsoever, but they choose not to. That, to me, says a lot about the mindset of the people running the corporations.

[joshcryer]

7. The Diamond Resorts CEO was the worst.

Time and time again (and he's been on the show three times) he illustrates shitty resorts, falling apart, poor wages, crap conditions, and he buys off everyone, buys people houses and crap. I really dislike that Diamond Resorts' guy. He's a POS of the highest order.

[Fumesucker]

5. As I read in a comment of yours to me only a couple of minutes ago..

It's not a grand conspiracy, the boss just wants what he thinks is best.

Why would you have a problem with people doing what they think is best?

The Peavey boss is exactly the type of person Bill and Hillary hang with and that's how they learn to genuinely care about the "little people".

[joshcryer]

6. Absolutely.

Which is why social policy trumps economic policy. You can tell that boss to "hire more people", or you can assure those people have a guaranteed living wage.

[Fumesucker]

8. Telling the boss would be social policy

Economic policy would be a guaranteed income..

Imagine the stimulus to the economy if people didn't have to worry where their next meal is coming from and stretch a package of ramen and three squares of toilet paper for two days.

[joshcryer]

11. Completely disagree.

The "economic progressives" want to go after companies and bosses and the rich. "Social progressives" want to help people.

A living wage is not redistribution, even libertarians support a negative income tax.

Did you know Ted Kennedy almost got a near living wage passed by setting the minimum wage to inflation? It'd be like $20 by now.

[Fumesucker]

14. Libertarians will support a negative income tax up until one cent comes out of their wallets for it

Then they will be screaming it's redistribution.

[Ykcutnek]

9. I don't label things propaganda lightly.

But that show is pure, corporate propaganda if I've ever seen it.

[mucifer]

10. That is one of the worst shows on tv.

It's a paid for one hour commercial for a product and at the same time a huge ego boost for the "undercover boss". They have some underpaid middle management person as the fall guy. That person gets disciplined. Then they get someone with a sob story they give a few thousand dollars to and all is fine. The undercover boss always come off smelling like a rose and the hero.

It's as nasty as fox news.

[onethatcares]

12. if this was the peavey guitars and amps company

all the more reason not to buy their shit.

Hell, I'd rather buy a Godin than one of those.

[Telcontar]

13. I enjoyed the Hooters one

CEO nearly fired a manager on the sport for being exploitive of the female employees. Let that one sink in a minute. They actually did fire him off camera.