$45K a year and free enchoritos?! Sign me up!

Hopefully she lands on her feet. Unfortunate.

I was really excited to see someone from taco bell making 45k a year, until i realized she'd been there for 30 years and had been promoted multiple times.
I've been at my job less than 6 months, and make that.
:-( Stupid cheap fast food places.

The saddest thing, is that I'm not surprised. I hope she's able to get justice.

I hope she publicies the shit out of this but I'd be curious what those two negative reviews are about....

Even yet another reason to not go there.

What justice? Sure, she showed up on time and never took a sick day, but we don't know that she was actually helpful or productive during her hours at work. If she received two negative reviews, the company must have a record of why they fired her. Most jobs provide feedback at reviews so employees know where they must improve. They also space out the reviews to provide employees time to correct problems.

Who gives a crap. I don't see you guys putting up articles for the 17 year olds who get canned for poor performance.

Chances are this lady is doing her job the exact same way she has for the last 30 years, and since then some policies have changed and she probably refuses to change with them. (I see this with some of the "old timers" I work with.)

And depending on where she is, no reason is even needed to fire her. (Thats how my state is). Fast food is profitable because the food is cheap to make, they charge a significant amount, and they use expendable labor. Id fire her too if I could get someone to do the same job for 30k a year.

It is unfortunate when a good person loses a job through no fault of their own, but we don't know the whole story. Odds are that the decision makers did take into account the fact she was an extremely dependable person for 30 years.

Since she was the store manager, what if she repeatedly had health code violations? I think everyone here would be singing a different tune. We just don't have all the information.

I'm not a completely heartless bastard, so I do feel for the woman but I have to wonder if there's anything more she can say about her performance other than the fact she'd worked there 30 years and never called in sick. As a General Manager she at least needs to prove that she has a modicum of business acumen and that the stores under her control were performing consistently.

Nothing in this write up talks about her competence in her position. I usually find that people who resort to "But I'm loyal and have never called in sick" don't have any actual skills to back up their performance.

I started out working the counter in retail at 17, and two years later I was running the store. If it took this lady 30 years to get to general manager (especially considering the amount of turnover in that industry) I think it might just say something about her abilities.

Two performance dings in 30 years? That still sounds like a pretty good track record. It makes one wonder if they were for something like "does not exude a cheerful smile promptly enough" or "hands out too many taco sauce packets at the drive through".

They can probably get some recent high school graduate to do the job for $29,000. I see seniority and higher wages as the more probable cause for her being fired.

We actually don't want to see old people working at fast food restaurants. Many people probably complained. I know I would. There is more dignity in panhandling. Spending our final years in a fast food restaurant with the mop and the bucket is a thought no one wants to deal with.

@brianala: Agreed. I've encountered plenty of people who showed up on time, but just didn't give a crap after that. It's like they physically clock in but never mentally arrive. And I've worked with people who are late, but when they get here, they're here 100%. A really good worker needs both - responsibility and good work ethic, but those who have one and not the other tend to get the short stick because of the major flaw.

They probably can get someone cheaper... and younger. That is why we have age discrimination laws.

@xtc46: Congrats! That is the single most asinine post I have ever seen on this site. I sincerely hope many, many very bad things happen to you in the near future.

@popeye_doyle: You complain about old people working at fast food places? You must have a conniption when you go to wally world.

@ogman: +1

Unfortunately, old people (I guess I should stop calling them old people then...) are easily ignored. A lot of them, if not for Wal-Mart or fast food places, or other "menial" jobs, wouldn't be able to make a living, either because they are old and can't take on labor, or because they aren't as adept at handling new technology, or just don't have the education. They get shuffled around and swept aside. It's kind of sad this woman lost her job, but unfortunately, she might just be another casualty of time moving forward to pave the way for the next generation. It's just the way it is sometimes.

Companies often use reviews against employees they just want to be rid of, creating a negative paper trail that will "justify" letting an employee go.

No doubt her high salary and age made her a target. They wouldn't mind if a 64 year-old were willing to make minimum wage, but they don't want to pay for experience.

She should definitely sue for age discrimination; most likely they'd settle.

@CaffeinatedSquint: She would not of lasted for 30 years if that was the case. This is Taco Bell, She was not a State of Federal employee.

"Negative performance reviews" can be real, or trumped up, so as to fire someone. As I'm familiar with the reporter (Coleman) who wrote the article, I'm sure this woman is being jacked around by Taco Bell. He wouldn't be writing the story if she was the "inept old woman" that many of our resident experts have determined.

From the article, it states that she balked at working closing hours. Anyone who's ever worked retail management knows how important it is to be there for closing shifts on your busiest days. You can't just give yourself the shifts during the slowest hours and expect to know what's going on in your store, with your employees, or with your customers. That's just the nature of retail. If she wasn't willing to put in the time during the busiest hours she can't have been a very effective manager.

Two bad reviews in 30 years? Yep, age discrimination. They want to get someone cheaper.

@CaffeinatedSquint: I take no offense to your comment at all, but since I study aging and ageism, let me dispel a few common myths:

"because they are old and can't take on labor": There are very few "labor" jobs left, for young or old.

"because they aren't as adept at handling new technology": Many studies have shown that older Americans are just fine with new technology. In fact, there are huge numbers of seniors using tech every day, much to the dismay of the young people who run into them at the computer repair shop and on Facebook.

"just don't have the education": Not even close to being true. Older people have been going back to school and learning new skills in record numbers for years now.

In fact, cost cutting is the number one reason for this type of firing, followed very closely by ageism. The EEOC is seeing more and more filings every year and companies are being sued for ageism.

I'm sure there is another side to the story, here.

@brianala: She got SHOT! and she continued to work there. She should get to choose her own shifts. Plus, in every retail job I've ever had, choosing shifts is a longevity perk.

@xtc46:

It's called company loyalty. Not many companies give it to their employees, but they sure as hell expect you to sign your soul over to them on this one way street.

I am a lawyer. I used to do a lot of discrimination cases, for plaintiffs, defendants and insurance companies (who frequently pay for the defense and settlement of employment claims).

She doesn't have much of a case from a legal point of view.

Unless she had an employment contract, she can be fired for any reason (or no reason at all) EXCEPT if the reason is discrimination on the basis of being in a protected class (age race, sex)

She might have something if she can show that Taco Bell in her area favors younger managers, but showing that kind of preference is notoriously difficult.

Taco Bell, on the other hand, has a great defense.

From the article:

"Also at issue was Shilson's reluctance to vary her schedule in order to close the restaurant a couple of times a month. The Edina Taco Bell stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, and Shilson says she was told before taking the job that she wouldn't have to close the place. But this summer, she was ordered to change her shifts. She declined."

Declined to change shifts? That will very seriously undermine any age discrimination claim.

@brianala:
The fact was that she made GM, not how long it took. She must have been doing something right in those 30 years to get promoted. Yes the 2 negative reviews are a question mark. However having worked in management and done employee reviews, I'm sure as hell not stupid enough to give an employee I think is over paid a good review. I'd be curious to know if the goals they gave her during the review are achievable and if any one else in her position has similar or more stringent goals.

@ShortBus: No, odds are they didn't want to pay her so much when they can hire someone a lot younger who they can pay less and someone who is not likely to use the health insurance so much. Sounds cruel but that's how these companies work.

Lots of moving parts here...Lets take a look.

Okay,I agree with the posters that say that they hope this woman gets some justice.Looks like she's being let go for the unpardonable sin of being born in 1943. Sucks loud.

On the other hand... If she's the crackerjack employee of the month type that she says she is...There are business owners gettin wood thinking about hiring her.In my business,I meet LOTS of small business owners. They all tell me (because I ask) that their number one problem ,far and away, is finding good,honest dependable workers that don't shoot up,toke down or steal the profits. (Almost none ask for employees to take a bullet)Most of these owners provide at least rudimentary health insurance because they need some for themselves and their families.

Now. Taco Bell is doing what big companies do.It's screwing this woman because its (supposedly) good for the bottom line.I agree with the poster that said to sue.I'd love to be her attorney and I would kill to be on that jury.(30 years and she just started screwing up ? This is going to cost you plenty,Mr. Taco Bell)

One more thing.She gets Medicare (I am told) in a year,so she could probably get along with a high deductible health policy until then and probably be okay financially.It won't be any picnic,but her options are limited.Taco Bell can't take that or Social Security away from her . All that said, I'm going to a real Mexican restaurant this evening instead of Taco bell to punish the sorry sack of bastards that did this (really,I am).Hope you do too.

I've never liked Taco Bell. I feel for her though, as company loyalty was definitely not present her.

And I really don't mean to be harsh here...but working at Taco Bell for 30 years? Damn.

@yahonza: You have a point, in that refusing to do the job would undermine her case. However, the fact that Taco Bell suddenly ordered her to do something she had not had to do before and that they had told her she would not have to do cause Taco Bell a bit of a problem. I think she has grounds for a lawsuit, with the right lawyer.

This woman was a general manager, not an easily replaced cog like the front cashiers or the backroom dish washers. Even fast food places require a little bit more to make general manager. And once you've worked your way into that position, it is not unreasonable to expect that if you are dismissed those doing the firing should point to a concrete reason for the decision. After all, they had a good reason to promote you and trust you with the store in the first place.

This looks like a pretty clear cut case of age/wage discrimination. Chat with a lawyer, and see if you have a case.

I bet Taco Bell didn't expect this type of negative publicity would leak out. This is exactly what makes the Internet so wonderful. Spreading news at super fast speed. This is consumer news and popular at that. Look at all the comments about topics like this.

The Consumerist should make a note to follow up on this and see what happens down the road.

she should sue. she will win. taco bell will then have to pay her much much more plus attorneys fees.

taco bell should have picked a better battle/old person to fire. they are screwed.

i think a few folks stumbled on this site on their way to corporatist.com.

i don't think taco bell realizes how lucky they were to have someone like winnie. most workers would've milked that first robbery for a disability/workers' comp lawsuit for mental distress. two robberies, a bullet & no lawsuit? that pretty much warrants a lifetime position within the company.

@ogman:

What do you mean, because they changed things? I suppose she shouldn't have to manage new products as well? She's an employee, not an owner for crisakes.

@BIGNUTTY: I don't see this as negative publicity. In terms of her winning a case, I don't give her a chance in hell. If she does, its a SAD day and explains why this country is going to he11. Too many people feel empowered to anything.

TBC is a smart company. You better believe they checked everything before making this move.

Trumped up negative reviews to justify letting a person go. Seen it before. Its all about having a paper trail to make suits more difficult. She was too expensive, or too old and they wanted to replace her.

Happened to my hubby in his late 50s -- the bad review as run-up to a pink slip. Funny how all his previous reviews for 15 years had been highest ratings. Then they switched tactics and just decided to "reorganize" the office and forget about tying his departure to a review. Funny how everyone (four people) let go was over 55. Yet a lawyer told us we had little chance of winning an age discrimination suit.

The AARP site has some good info on age discrimination and employment, for anyone who wants/needs it.

@jeffjohnvol: You just beat xtc46's record of "most assinine."

There is no doubt, from your ramblings, that you are affiliated with, if not fully employed by Taco Bell. i sure hope it's employment, otherwise, you're just a sad fanboy.

To say that it would be a SAD day if this lady wins a lawsuit is disgusting. Your mom should be slapped for raising such an awful person.

@Geekybiker: Yeah, you must know all and see all, huh. Without getting both sides of the story, how could you possibly know. I don't know who to blame unless I could see all the information. could be that she had problems managing the employees, or can't do her share of the shifts. Anybody who makes a complete judgement based on one article that is written to get someones attention (sensationalism) rather than an unbiased presentation of facts, lacks a little common sense in my opinion.

@dualityshift: Okay, we'll see. If she files suit and wins, I'm the idiot. If she can't win, then (even more) obviously, you are.

Not employed by TB. Self employed, and I understand how business works.

@ElizabethD:

Discrimination claims of all kinds are notoriously difficult to prove. In Federal Court, something like 90% of cases are knocked out without a trial.

Ug I so chose the wrong career. Got a college degree and everything and she made more money then me.

Sucks this happened. I am betting she is right, she was fired to save a few thousand on the budget so the regional manager could probably get his end of year bonus. Wonder if she could sue for age discrimination.

@jeffjohnvol: i can tell you from my experience in retail that reviews are for the sole purpose of generating a paper trail that can be used as a defense for cases like these. no matter how perfect an employee was (always on time, excellent with customers, excellent sales numbers), i literally had reviews sent back from corporate if they didn't have at least 3 areas that "needed improvement" & some correlation with former areas needing improvement. i believe that exact words of my boss were: what the hell good are these? do them again.

Shouldn't she be retiring after 30 years? Doesn't Taco Bell ever let their employees stop working?

Didn't Circuit City do the same thing with all their higher-paid employees a few months ago?

And yes, at-will employment sucks for the employees, another thing St. Reagan helped to bring about.

why isnt she suing. Its quite clearly age discrimination. After that many years to have 2 poor reviews on her? Give me a break it reeks of lets make her look bad so we can fire here, throw someone in for much cheaper, and have a paper trail if she complains.

Those who are questioning her competence: Did you read the story, and this paragraph in particular?

"The Edina Taco Bell...is one of the highest-volume Taco Bells in the area, with sales of almost $1.5 million a year. Shilson was brought in to run it three years ago, after she had earned two top Taco Bell employee recognition awards."

So in three years she went from being promoted to manage one of their highest-volume restaurants to such a level of incompetence she deserved to be fired? If you believe that -- rather than that they wanted to get rid of an older, highly paid (by their standards) worker -- you're obviously willing to swallow anything Big Business feeds you.