Pros
Long standing with a reputation in the community.
Cons
Shortly after I returned to work following the Pandemic “re-opening,” we employees were presented with paper to sign. It stated that we had read and agreed to a new “Open Door” policy. While this policy was not presented along with the paper to be signed, it was clear to me that we were being told to sign a Mandatory Arbitration Clause. When our manager explained it to us, he made no mention of the fact that we were signing away our constitutional right of access to the courts. I refused to sign. When my manager asked why, I explained. He seemed completely surprised, but he accepted that I wouldn’t sign. We went about our business. A couple weeks later, all employees were presented with a new contract. This one contained all the language we would be signing, and it was clearly labeled as a mandatory arbitration clause. I was told that my continued employment was contingent upon signing. Big Time’s obfuscation having been called out, they responded by playing hardball. In the face of such despicable, predatory behavior against desperate workers who are in many cases on the brink of ruin, I quit, effectively immediately. In the 13 years I had worked for this company, this was the first time I had felt truly embarrassed about my having been associated with them. As I am sure you know, mandatory arbitration agreements make it nearly impossible for employees to seek relief from the courts if they are being cheated, exploited or discriminated against by their employers. (Isn’t that exactly the point?) Arbitrators are much more likely to side with employers than the courts are, and they award significantly less damages. Attorneys know this. That is why they are so reluctant to accept cases without full payment up front. Therefore employees are much less able to seek relief. You might also know, as reported by the Economic Policy Institute, that women are more likely to be coerced into forced arbitration than men. That blacks are more likely than whites. And that those making less the $13/hr are much more likely to suffer forced arbitration. Mandatory arbitration is de facto discriminatory and harms the weakest the most. The fact that you and your lawyers would use first trickery, then the threat of destitution, to force your most loyal workers, the ones who came back to serve the public during a Pandemic, should make you ashamed of yourselves. It makes me wonder what you know or plan to do that employees don’t yet know about. After all, wage theft is by far the most common type of theft in America, and sexual harassment is known as being rampant in the restaurant industry. Yet you seem intent on depriving employees of protection from these forms of abuse. I urge the remaining employees of Big Time Restaurant Group and/or National Taverns, LTD, to read the fine print and demand better. Don’t accept a take-it-or-leave-it relationship with your employer.