Fast-food chain to charge 5% Obamacare Surcharge

[houghtam]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Most sanitary rules laws are of a local nature enforced by local inspectors mostly union in larger cities so unlikely they will be passé unless there is a consideration made.

Most restaurants that have been in business for awhile KNOW that it is a sound business practice to run a clean shop. It usually means you are not killing your customers.

But I suspect that just escapes the liberal mind.

I've been in food service for just about forever, and the only thing you're correct about here is that most health departments are run at the county level.

However, the assumption that "most restaurants" know it's a sound business to keep clean is just plain wrong on many levels. It is cost prohibitive to follow all of the regulations put on the industry, so "most restaurants" actually do the absolute minimum to stay open. Many develop relationships with their individual inspectors so that they can skate by on certain things, and find workarounds for existing issues, rather than actually fixing them.

The industry is rife with corruption, as well. In Cincinnati, I worked at a stadium that was infested with rats, and knew we would not pass inspection, despite my best efforts...the health inspector came in, spent an hour in the GM's office, and left. I never saw him, just that he drove away in a Jaguar. That was a big part of the reason I left that job.

In the south, people claim all the time that their restaurants are cleaner because they are legally required to post their health inspection results at the front door and drive-thrus. I don't know about the rest of the south, but I know for a fact that in Cobb County, GA, Jefferson County, AL, and East Baton Rouge Parish, LA this isn't the case.

In each of those counties, the BOH has developed a "minimum score" you can still receive and remain open. It is 88 out of 100. What they've done then is instruct the health inspectors that unless you see something completely outrageous, give them at least an 88 so they can stay open, because the county loses tax income if they shut down restaurants. Additionally, it needs to be 88, because they conducted a study that determined 88 is the lowest score they can have without the public losing faith in the system. In two of those counties, I had the BOH representative tell me that, because we were a movie theater and only selling popcorn, the worst we could get was a 96, so "there was no need to worry" about him coming in there...regardless of the fact that we sold hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza, etc.

So no, your assumptions that "most restaurants" attempt to keep their buildings clean because it's just good for business is completely false.

So now you can start in with the "SEE? THERE'S TOO MUCH REGULATION ON BUSINESS!!" talk.

[Requiem]

Houghtam went dummy on Lonestar.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by houghtam

I've been in food service for just about forever, and the only thing you're correct about here is that most health departments are run at the county level.

However, the assumption that "most restaurants" know it's a sound business to keep clean is just plain wrong on many levels. It is cost prohibitive to follow all of the regulations put on the industry, so "most restaurants" actually do the absolute minimum to stay open. Many develop relationships with their individual inspectors so that they can skate by on certain things, and find workarounds for existing issues, rather than actually fixing them.

The industry is rife with corruption, as well. In Cincinnati, I worked at a stadium that was infested with rats, and knew we would not pass inspection, despite my best efforts...the health inspector came in, spent an hour in the GM's office, and left. I never saw him, just that he drove away in a Jaguar. That was a big part of the reason I left that job.

In the south, people claim all the time that their restaurants are cleaner because they are legally required to post their health inspection results at the front door and drive-thrus. I don't know about the rest of the south, but I know for a fact that in Cobb County, GA, Jefferson County, AL, and East Baton Rouge Parish, LA this isn't the case.

In each of those counties, the BOH has developed a "minimum score" you can still receive and remain open. It is 88 out of 100. What they've done then is instruct the health inspectors that unless you see something completely outrageous, give them at least an 88 so they can stay open, because the county loses tax income if they shut down restaurants. Additionally, it needs to be 88, because they conducted a study that determined 88 is the lowest score they can have without the public losing faith in the system. In two of those counties, I had the BOH representative tell me that, because we were a movie theater and only selling popcorn, the worst we could get was a 96, so "there was no need to worry" about him coming in there...regardless of the fact that we sold hot dogs, chicken tenders, pizza, etc.

So no, your assumptions that "most restaurants" attempt to keep their buildings clean because it's just good for business is completely false.

So now you can start in with the "SEE? THERE'S TOO MUCH REGULATION ON BUSINESS!!" talk.

once again..

Originally Posted by lonestar View Post
Most sanitary rules laws are of a local nature enforced by local inspectors mostly union in larger cities so Unlikely they will be passed unless there is a consideration made.

Most restaurants that have been in business for awhile KNOW that it is a sound business practice to run a clean shop. It usually means you are not killing your customers.

But I suspect that just escapes the liberal mind.

I know lot of restaurant owners, even here in less than clean El Paso.. I used to want to be a chef but gave that up after a stint of being a Chefs apprentice coming out of school..

The good ones will invite folks back into their kitchens and while some are not where you can eat off the floors, their prep areas and Reefers are damned clean..

the good clean ones stay in business, the others that do not are not in business.. I have about 4 places I frequent and see loads of loyal clients back in them all the time..


As I said somewhere there is about an 80% failure rate in new start ups, unless you are a chain and most of them have their own inspectors come in to protect the brand name..

I have looked into going into the business when I first retired so have a middling interest in them..

Thanks for you info but do not see any of my thoughts reputed, on what I have seen in the industry....


BTW there was a great piece on just this 20/20 the day before yesterday..

you are correct about a lot of dirty places, where food is not stored correctly, dirty and greasy and even lots of things on or near your table are less than clean..

The one thing they suggested you do is immediately go into the bathrooms and see how clean they are.. IF they are not then walk out because anyplace that does not maintain their bathrooms is not cleaning the kitchen either..

One other thing they said was do not let the menus touch your table, do not touch your face after ordering, once you have ordered go to the bathroom and wash your hands before eating.. Keep sani-wipes available to wipe down the salt and pepper and condiment holders..

Some of the tests they ran on the various items had loads of bacteria as well as viruses on them.. up to and including ecoli..

Nicer places are better to eat at as the clientele ted to be cleaner..

Never ever eat on airplanes if it does not come out of a sealed bag..

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by Drek

What's your point? Just decided to throw a Thomas Jefferson quote out there as a reply out of context because you can't read a few century old prose and get the inherent meaning form it?

You know what Thomas Jefferson would say is "wasting the labours of the people"?

Having the highest per person health care expenses and not being anywhere near the top in terms of productivity.

Having a massive military industrial complex that spends more time fighting wars for corporate interests and other nation's defenses than doing it's job defending the U.S.

Having an ever growing privatized prison industry that is actively subverting sentencing laws to increase profits.

I could go on. Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln, etc. - All the greatest leaders this nation has had - recognized that the government has a legitimate role to play in balancing the economic landscape for all citizens and picking up the slack where the private sector refuses due to a lack of profit margins.

That is the intended purpose of government. Hence why Jefferson was in favor of things like estate taxes.

People have lost sight of what Federal government is or does.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

People have lost sight of what Federal government is or does.

Or are supposed to do.

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by cutthemdown

Yeah a loan you pay back whether you make money or not.

It is called a risk assessment. It is something a business should do prior to funding and periodically while being open.

How long can interest rates stay at these unprecedented low levels?
When do you anticipate them going up?
What will the affect be?

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Or are supposed to do.

What do you think government is supposed to do?

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by Drek

What's your point? Just decided to throw a Thomas Jefferson quote out there as a reply out of context because you can't read a few century old prose and get the inherent meaning form it?

You know what Thomas Jefferson would say is "wasting the labours of the people"?

Having the highest per person health care expenses and not being anywhere near the top in terms of productivity.

Having a massive military industrial complex that spends more time fighting wars for corporate interests and other nation's defenses than doing it's job defending the U.S.

Having an ever growing privatized prison industry that is actively subverting sentencing laws to increase profits.

I could go on. Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln, etc. - All the greatest leaders this nation has had - recognized that the government has a legitimate role to play in balancing the economic landscape for all citizens and picking up the slack where the private sector refuses due to a lack of profit margins.

That is the intended purpose of government. Hence why Jefferson was in favor of things like estate taxes.

The fact that you so casually linked together Jefferson, TR and Lincoln only underscores the fact that you don't understand the transformation that took place between the founding and progressive era. These three Presidents had very different beliefs about the role of the federal government. And Jefferson's was probably the most limited.

Your understanding of Jefferson's intentions for this country are in many ways nearly exactly the opposite of what he really believed. And I can find you plenty more writings to demonstrate if you would like.

Regardless, my reply was only in response to your saying there's no difference between the Constitutional mandate to look after the welfare of the Republic and the extra-Constitutional modern interpretation that raises no distinction between the welfare of the nation and the welfare of the individual.

The founding fathers, including Jefferson, carefully articulated that important distinction. Repeatedly. Which is something social welfare Democrats like swept under the rug. But revisionist history is all it is.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Odysseus

What do you think government is supposed to do?

Maintain and direct a standing army, navy, print money to take the place of Gold and silver that most used as currency.

Beyond that not much, that was pretty much all they were supposed to do under the original constitution.

Everything past that is the invention of flawed men.

[houghtam]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Maintain and direct a standing army, navy, print money to take the place of Gold and silver that most used as currency.

Beyond that not much, that was pretty much all they were supposed to do under the original constitution.

Everything past that is the invention of flawed men.

Read up on your Constitution. I would start with Article I and go from there.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Oooops!

Denny's corporate management and many Denny's franchise owners are not happy with John Metz, the owner of 40 Denny's restaurants who said he'd be adding a 5 percent surcharge to meals at his restaurants to pay for employee health insurance requirements under Obamacare.

Denny's CEO not happy about franchisee's Obamacare surcharge threats

[Fedaykin]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Oooops!

Denny's corporate management and many Denny's franchise owners are not happy with John Metz, the owner of 40 Denny's restaurants who said he'd be adding a 5 percent surcharge to meals at his restaurants to pay for employee health insurance requirements under Obamacare.

Denny's CEO not happy about franchisee's Obamacare surcharge threats

I was waiting for this.

[spdirty]

I don't know how my company is going to survive this ****. Good thing is our equipment is paid for, and we have no employees and will not hire.

Survival mode for us for at least another 4 ****ing years. Just looked at the online plan room. Depressing. Where we are usually flooded with bid invites, now all there is is a ****ing Goodyear in Colorado Springs. Public plan room has a house in Greeley, a floor repair in Brighton, a superintendent's office remodel in Durango, a Bathroom removal in Golden, etc....just bull**** jobs. And that's statewide. And the CDOT work isn't any better. Where we use to throw out 3-5 bids per week its now 1-2 per month, competing with electrical guys that will buy the jobs just to keep their guys working. Go into these pavers offices and they all are down to the bare bones in terms of a workforce. Offices are 80% vacant in most of them. The way we were going 6-8 years ago I figured by this time there would be a good shot we'd be millionaires by now. Now i just hope we are still in business 6-8 years from now.

Might have to go to Wyoming where it looks like the work is.

[Spider]

you got 50+ employees ?

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

[spdirty]

Originally Posted by Spider

you got 50+ employees ?

0 employees, we are a 3 person family run business with nearly no overhead. Still tough to compete with desperate electrical guys, and a stupid ass insane a-hole from Grand Junction that already went out of business once, and throws bids out there that are less than our costs, when work is scarce. Good thing is that with this crappy economy there aren't any new idiot startup guys that think they can do this. But it's tough. I was hopeful in June when we got our first housing development job since '07, but right now there is just nothing. If it's still like this in January/February (bidding season) I'm really gonna get nervous.

People don't realize that these rich investors are now sitting on their money and not investing, hunkering down going into survival mode right now because they are worried about what the government is going to do. And I don't blame them. It just sucks right now.

[Spider]

Originally Posted by spdirty

0 employees, we are a 3 person family run business with nearly no overhead.

same with us ...so why are you sweating Obamacare ?

[spdirty]

Originally Posted by Spider

same with us ...so why are you sweating Obamacare ?

Because its not about us, its about the companies and investors that aren't investing and growing because of Obamacare and higher taxes and future economic uncertainty.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by spdirty

Because its not about us, its about the companies and investors that aren't investing and growing because of Obamacare and higher taxes and future economic uncertainty.

Took me about 12 seconds to understand your plight.

Would think that would not have gone so far over his head.

Oh wait it was the great liberal spider.

Must have forgotten that YOU DID NOT build your company it was given to you.

[spdirty]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Took me about 12 seconds to understand your plight.

Would think that would not have gone so far over his head.

Oh wait it was the great liberal spider.

Must have forgotten that YOU DID NOT build your company it was given to you.

I don't have any ill will towards spider. I'm pretty sure he would rather see us do well than struggle. And I wish all the best for him. When him and I talk we just talk, there isn't any political oneupsmanship going on. We just talk.

Despite what everyone says, I'll maintain that he's a good guy.

[spdirty]

Just depressed right now. Nobody doing anything, our pionjar repairman/salesman died. God only knows how we're gonna figure out how to repair those things now. Wife already lost 20% of her work. Seems like half the country getting laid off or workers hours getting cut to 28 per week. I don't know. Just keep pluggin away I guess. Hope for the best.

[cutthemdown]

It seems like they should be able to make a deal that raises the marginal rate. Maybe Obama throws a bone and knocks a small % off the raise. To make it look like repubs fought etc etc. Then come to an agreement on defense spending. IMO defense and military seems to be easier for them to make agreements on. Then maybe to offset what repubs say will kill growth you cut the corp tax rate a bit.

Dont try and cut the deficit in 10 yrs its too big of a hole. I think we could have great growth just getting it moving in the right direction.