I quit.

I seriously couldn't take it anymore.
Got a better job. If you should find this blog and have similar grievances....feel free to jump in.
I'll be checking back from time to time.

Give me a Break!

Are there labor laws in this wonderful state of ours? Aren't we supposed to get breaks? By Law? We don't get breaks. Some of us are scheduled for 8 hour shifts at a clip without a break.
I may be shooting myself in the foot here because I think according to the law, we are supposed to get an "unpaid" (meaning we must clock out for it so I'd be jipping myself 15 minutes pay per 8 hour shift) For a 5 day a week employee we'd be looking at a loss of about an hours pay. But, to be honest...to have the dignity of 15 minutes time to myself to smoke a cigarette, or just walk outside and breathe...Man....I'd gladly lose an hours pay a week to get some dignity. Wouldn't you?

What kind of coffee company doesn't drink coffee?

She'll order things in our store and she doesn't even know about the products we sell.



At first I thought it was cute and endearing that she "acted" so aloof as to goings on of her own business, but as time goes by I realize that she doesn't know about her business operations. That is why she stays away. It's sad. I fear my boss cares more for her store than the owner does. And I know the owner doesn't care about her because she'll fire AMAZING managers on a whim. I've seen it happen. None of us are safe here. And I guess that's how it goes in any company when you have a fearful owner. She's full of fear.





She doesn't know how to make a Cappuccino.



I heard that once during a meeting on "quality control" she didn't even know the recipe for a cappuccino!!



She doesn't know how to French Press coffee.



I seriously doubt she could tell the difference between a good cup of coffee and a bad cup of coffee.



What kind of business owner doesn't go into their stores daily? She has something like 10 stores and hides in an office somewhere.



The one thing I have come to realize is that Brew Ha Ha! will not go away. Brew Ha Ha! is a great concept (one that was developed by Howard Schultz from Starbucks Coffee Company and Alisa just copied it and wrote her business model around his...click the name if you're not familiar with Howard Schultz. Even down to the "trip to Europe"...real original. I'm sure she went to Europe and had a banger time and had some great coffee....) It fills a need. It also attracts a certain type of employee. It attracts artistic, creative, caring people that love to serve. Unfortunately, these type of people are expendable. Easily replaced. If you ask people what they love about Brew Ha Ha! most will say the coffee is the best...but if you press for more information they will, more likely than not, say they love the people that work there....and they will go on and on about the people who work in the stores. They don't go on and on about the coffee or the pastries. So, WE, the people make Brew Ha Ha! what it is.

We are the appeal.

The muffins and scones we sell are frozen.

Yeah, we bake them in house, but we don't "MAKE" the pastries.

It's not about the money we get paid. Honestly, we get paid pretty well for this type of work.

The tips are GREAT!!

The one thing that we don't get is respect. Gratitude. Appreciation.

We are looked upon as thieving morons that don't know how to ring things up properly. Period. Have you ever noticed that shift supervisors or ASMs don't get promoted from within the company into a Management position? Why do you think that is? It's because the great people that work for Brew Ha Ha! long enough to learn the ins and outs and have a desire to gain Management experience, leave. Do you honestly think it's because there aren't ANY good enough people to do the job? If she were involved in her stores, she might be able to see the talent she employs. After watching how managers get treated by the owner, who in their right mind would put that stress on themselves for $30,000-$36,000 per year? it's not worth the trouble.



Again, It's all pretty sad.



So, you may ask "Why don't you get another job?" "Why do you work there if it's so awful?"



Well, the answer is pretty simple actually. I love coffee. I love working around coffee and people that love coffee. In a way, it's nice that the company is big enough that I don't have to see her everyday. If I did, I would probably quit and find other work, because she is not a coffee person. She's a dumpy looking, lazy, uninspired, stale curmudgeon. She is an insult to the word slob.

Brew Ha Ha! is a Joke!

Ok, Ok, Ok. So, you live in or around Wilmington, Delaware? Me too. Therefore, probably you've been to a Brew Ha Ha! coffee house. Or at least you've seen them around.

Well, I am here to tell you the truth about what a sham this whole operation is.

It's a joke.

I know what you're thinking...Who is this guy? Why is he doing this? What does he have to gain?

Well, my objective is clear and simple. To expose a fraud.
I speak from the inside. I am an employee. I'll never reveal my name or which store I work in.
This is not a slam to my peers or my Manager (she's awesome). It's a slam on the upper level.

I am the voice of many. I speak from the heart.

I'll return shortly.....and I will unleash the truth. This is an expose. This is....