Is Applebee’s Ignoring This Former Employee’s Claims of Sexual Harassment?

This blog gives me a pretty loud voice and every once in a while, I like to use that voice to get attention for something that may be overlooked. Such is the case with a former Applebee’s employee who posted something onto Applebee’s Facebook page that went completely unnoticed and unanswered. Odd, considering that when a customer complains about the portion size of their soup or about how the crunchy shrimp wasn’t good enough, Applebee’s quickly replies in order to keep that customer from crossing the mall parking lot to go to Chili’s instead. However, when an employee complains about being sexually harassed by a cook and then being verbally assaulted by a manager, that comment goes completely unnoticed.

Enter my loud fucking voice.

On November 3, Tricia posted on Applebee’s Facebook page explaining how and why she quit the Wichita, Kansas Applebee’s on 320 South Ridge Road. She says she was made fun of on a daily basis, had a cook tell her she had nice breasts and she explains how when she decided to quit on the spot, the manager John called her names and yelled at her. She was “terrified and humiliated.” It seems that her efforts to speak to corporate about the situation are hitting brick walls and no one will respond to her.

Is this alright with anyone who is reading this? It can’t be. How can Applebee’s be so quick to apologize to someone on Facebook about not having the Riblets, yet completely ignore a very real and serious complaint from a former employee? Now, I realize that plenty of people are going to blast me for posting this and say things like, “How do you know she’s even telling the truth?” or “Maybe she was being too sensitive.” The fact of the matter is that Tricia felt terrified and humiliated and that is her reality. If she was willing to post her story on Facebook, why wouldn’t it be true? Why would anyone think it’s anything but true? Because she’s a woman? If a man had made a comment like that, would people still question its validity?

Before you answer, think about this that my friend Jenn Dodd wrote on Facebook:

16 woman accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct. He’s POTUS.

Almost 50 accused Bill Cosby and it took Hannibel Burress (a man) bringing it up for people to actually listen.

OVER 80 WOMEN have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. These allegations go back to the 70’s and they’re just now being taken seriously.

**1** MAN accuses Kevin Spacey of assault? Everyone believes him immediately without question, Spacey is duly punished, and his career is over.

So, I choose to believe that this woman was made uncomfortable at her job and I would like to see Applebee’s fucking respond to it. If they can send a freaking gift card to someone because they didn’t get enough Tomato Basil soup in their to-go cup, then they can sure as hell apologize to a former employee who felt threatened enough at her job to quit. Step it up, Applebee’s. Do better. At least reach out to this woman and make amends. Talk to Manager John and get his side of the story. Do something. Don’t just pretend you didn’t see it on your Facebook page and think it will eventually go away because as long as I have this blog, I am going to stand up for servers who are mistreated in the restaurant industry. And to me, it sounds like Tricia was mistreated and it just happened to be at your restaurant. I hope everyone who reads this feels the same way I do.

Applebee’s, the ball’s in your court.

Discussion

  1. Karen Mundon
  2. Christine
  3. Annie
  4. Tricia
  5. Annie
  6. Lauren
    • Alyxandra Stehley
  7. Annie
  8. Ugh!
  9. CrimsonAndClover
  10. CarolynM
  11. Lauren
    • Tricia
    • Lindsay
  12. David
  13. Heather
  14. Cathely
  15. Annie
  16. Alexus
    • Hercule
  17. Linda
  18. Jaime
  19. Kristin
  20. Ana
  21. miss kitty
  22. Klea
  23. Staci
  24. Ashley
  25. Melissa
  26. Norma
  27. Sabrae
  28. Michael
    • Alyxandra Stehley
  29. Dammit
  30. Tealeaf

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