"Frighteningly Loyal" Jack in the Box Employee Now Working A Sane Schedule
Remember Blake, the north Texas Jack in the Box employee Consumerist featured and described as "frighteningly loyal" a few weeks ago? Kevin, the person who originally introduced us to Blake, printed out a copy of the page and drove around with it in case Blake happened to serve him on a snack run. A few days after we posted the story, he did!
It's 2 AM in the morning and I pulled up to Jack in the Box and guess who takes my order? Our tattooed buddy Blake. I had previously printed up the Consumerist page with the story that ran on him just in case I were to come across him again. The guy freaked out and said he was going to frame it. He called his boss to tell her about it (must be a cool boss to take a call at 2am over a web posting) and she seemed happy to hear the news. Even mentioned that she had tried to get him on the Jay Leno Show at one time. To think, all over a stupid tattoo of a clown let alone a corporate icon?
Thanks,
Kevin W.P.S. Blake did mention that he isnt allowed to hand out his hours anymore. Apparently some of your observant readers noted that he was working more hours than the Texas labor laws allow and they had received some calls about it. Blake has a more reasonable schedule now, and still travels around North Texas working the late night drive-through lanes. He wanted to pass along his thanks to the consumerist for posting his picture and story.
So, the reason for posting this is to let all of our "observant readers" know that no, Blake is no longer working a 72-hour work week, and he loved the attention. If we learn that he's appearing on late night TV, we'll let you know.
PREVIOUSLY: Jack in the Box Employee Provides Great Service, Frightening Company Loyalty
Post a comment
Comments:
what a smile he has on him..
...
..
;x
I'm seeing a ring. Mrs. Blake, come on down!
@BuddyGuyMontag: I think that's Mrs. Blake on his right arm. Not just a picture either...the actual Mrs. Blake.
so basically thanks to the article Blake makes less money now because of his hours?
that's depressing....
@Skankingmike: One can only hope that Jack in the Box was willing to up his pay to make up for the loss in hours, as a way of rewarding him for his dedication and service to the company. That would be a very nice gesture on the part of the company, if that happened.
Some jerkass saw the post and called the labor board? Who's the douchebag who did it?
I thought cuz he worked at two different stores he was ok?
something's wrong with that dude's face...
@Skankingmike: Agreed, working where a time budget is contained, and although none of my employee's are allowed to go into overtime, I highly doubt he got a raise.
In fact, He's lucky he didn't get canned for this publicity, you don't want the dept. of labor looking into stuff, they ran an audit with my store a few weeks ago, wasn't pretty, even though we were doing everything right, they requested time sheets of employees that haven't been employed with me for 3 years.
@Koinu: that's what i was thinking.
Labor laws are a fickle thing.
I'm surprised the manager didn't get fired for scheduling overtime in this recession. I can't imagine it would be too hard to find somebody to cover those shifts i mean it's like 10% unemployment right now you got the pick of the litter.
@coren: not how it works, working for the same company in the same state = build up of time. Now if he worked at another gig on top of this one that's his own business.
There's just something kinda sweet about this story. It might not be what we generally think of as a glamorous job, but obviously the dude loves what he does so kudos to him.
Now hook it up with the tacos, bro.
This looks so creepy on My Yahoo!
@cmdrsass:
Exactly what I was thinking. I can't believe someone would be so lame as to try and get this guy or his company in trouble. He's a loyal employee and now he has less money in his pocket to show for it.
@nuton2wheels:
Glad to see that your so shallow that you thought his face was worthy of making fun of. We don't get to pick our faces.
Growing up, we had 1 woman that worked full time at mcdonalds in my town, and then worked at another in the next town for another 20-25 hours a week. I dont see what the big deal is that he's working so many if he's happy with the hours. Hell in highschool we had a guy open at hardees, race to highschool, and then soon as it was over he'd race back and work until close, weekends he'd work open to close, he did this every day, 7 days a week at the same hardees for over a year. Kinda sad getting overtime on 5$ an hour is only 7.50, but he pulled nearly 80 hours a week.
I think whoever called and got this guy's hours cut should be shot, I work 3 jobs, and STILL can't afford health insurance. I work 100 hours a week, survive on barely 3 hours sleep a day.
if he got canned for it I would never ever eat at jack in box ever again. they should give this guy a promotion for being this loyal/friendly/happy in an industry in which the turnover rate is through the roof.
Go blake go. I hope all your dreams come true buddy.
72 hours a week isn't allowed in Texas? You wouldn't know it around here with some of the 7 day/12 hour shifts (3 weeks on, 1 week off, etc) in the refineries.
@m4ximusprim3: Whoa whoa whoa! As someone who has pulled 36 hour shifts, and worked off the books, I would never complain to a labor board. If you enjoy your job, and want to spend time there, and your significant other is OK with that, then peace be with you.
@Zenne: Maybe something has changed, but I worked 82 hours a weeek (6x12 and 10 on Friday so people could go to the bank) for almost two years straight in Texas.
I'd be interested in seeing the Texas labor law that says he was working too much.
Is this guy's boss named Eugene Krabs?
Man, The Consumerist has some of the best success stories around.
I wonder if they just told him to not give out his hours and tell people he works a more reasonable schedule. After all, if it was more reasonable as in, within the labor laws, then what would be the harm in giving it out now?
Hmmm.. Either way I hope the guy isn't making less money. Seriously hope he gets a boost up by corporate at some point. Maybe in a TV ad so Jack can show how loyal his employees are compared to competitors.
@Skankingmike: Wasn't he working at multiple jack-in-the-boxes -- it's not overtime if you work for multiple employers, each less than 40 hrs, that total at more than 40 hrs.
@DjDynasty: You're the kind of person that the people who insist that "Everybody has time to do X" think don't exist.
@DjDynasty: I think you're the reason why labor laws exist...three hours of sleep a day is a hazard to your health and the safety of others if you drive. Just because you're used to it, doesn't mean it isn't bad for you, or others.
@OnThe$20Coin_GitEmSteveDave: I'd add that if you enjoy your job, your SO is okay with it, and you aren't putting others' safety at risk by driving while sleep deprived.
@j-o-h-n: Well, that's assuming they are different employers under the law. If he was working for 3 different stores and hitting 20-30 hours at each, but not getting paid time and a half or being offered benefits as a full time employee, even Texas has a problem with that; really what we are talking about here are federal employment laws anyway.
@nucwin83: Actually a bit of correction on my earlier post. According to TX law, you cannot be scheduled to work two shifts (at a restaurant, at least) with less than 8 hours between them. You can pick up shifts as you want, but if your manager schedules you for it, that's no good. Other than that, as far as the state is concerned you can work 168 hours a week, although as soon as you hit a certain number of hours you are getting paid double time, so most employers won't allow it.
so does Kevin work a late shift himself or did he just happen to be driving around North Texas at 2AM with a hankerin for some JITB?
Are you sure that Texas has a maximum number of hours you can work? I was pretty sure that it's up to the employee to put in as much or little over time as they want.
@Rectilinear Propagation: omg yes. we need get him on a commercial!
we don't have jack in the boxes around here (i'm in delaware, east cost of the USA) but we still get their commercials every now and then.
@Zenne: Behold the power of "exempt employees"! If you draw a salary (a set amount of annual income) instead of an hourly wage, your employer can pretty much work your tail off all over the plantation...
Been there. Done that. Never again. At least, not for someone else...
@DjDynasty: Man, isn't the free-market healthcare system wonderful!?!
(I don't even have to ask what country you live in, do I.)
USA! USA!
@PencilSharp: It's always nice when you're on salary and just for fun compute what you're technically getting paid per hour, and then find out it's somewhere around $3.50/hour, too.
We don't have them in MO either, but I wish we did. When I lived in CA, I ate hundreds of their spicy chicken sammishes. Yum.
@nucwin83: Though I'm sure he's a great guy, I have a feeling that if you spent an hour talking to him (and not just 5 minutes here and there in a drive-through window) you'd quickly learn this guy is either seriously OCD or manic or something. I don't think he's ever going to get a "boost up to corporate."
I'm sure he's a harmless guy, but I've met a lot of workaholics before -- most have some sort of mental issue.
Texas Labor Laws and Texas Hours Worked for Non-Exempt Employees. Simply put, TX follow federal labor guidelines (like they have a choice). So, you add 'em up.
I'm sure he will be getting a letter saying how he needs to only work 10 hours a week for the next 3 months so he wont be upgraded to full time.
I hate to be a person getting yelled at on the internet here in a few minutes. But maybe Blake wanted (or needed) all of those hours. Maybe working at JITB that much is really important to him. I think that choices regarding a person's time and money ought be left to them.