'Undercover Boss' gets down and dirty for positive change

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Last night “Undercover Boss” got down and dirty, and impressed viewers with its post Super Bowl premiere. in previews, “Undercover Boss” promised to profile the unsung heroes that make a company tick. it did just that and more, resulting in positive change for underpaid and overworked employees.

The first episode of the newest reality offering from CBS featured Larry O’Donnell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Waste Management, North America’s largest trash and recycling company. For one week, O’Donnell traded in his power suits and corner office for a chance to hit the trenches with everyday employees. When O’Donnell told his senior staff of his week-long plan, one questioned, “Are you serious?” Yes, he was serious and hit the road posing as “Randy Lawrence.” in order to explain the camera during his undercover mission, he told WM employees that he was a construction worker filming a documentary about entry-level jobs.

Recycling Facility with Sandy – O’Donnell’s first stop was a recycling facility where he met Sandy, a line supervisor for Waste Management. O’Donnell worked on the line, and was instructed to pull out all cardboard and trash as it sped by on a conveyor belt at lightning speed. During a lunchtime conversation, O’Donnell discovered that employees are docked two minutes for every minute they clock in late. He makes a mental note, and moves on.
Landfill in Florida with Walter – O’Donnell next reports to Walter, a no-nonsense boss who directs him to pick up trash from a hillside near the facility. “You’re taking too long, Randy. You’re not cutting the mustard, Randy,” Walter admonishes. Walter can run rings around O’Donnell, who soon discovers that Walter is undergoing dialysis three times per week. “I let my spirit tell my body what to do,” Walter tells O’Donnell, who is impressed with his unwavering work ethic and positive attitude. in the end, Walter fires O’Donnell for not picking up trash quickly enough. “Walter is the only person who’s fired me in my career,” O’Donnell quips.
Landfill in New York with Jaclyn – O’Donnell spends a day with Jaclyn, an overworked, underpaid and unappreciated office manager who wears many hats due to budget cuts. She’s like the Energizer bunny with no off switch. O’Donnell is amazed with her “can do” attitude. “I never do one thing at a time,” she says. Jaclyn invites O’Donnell to dinner, and he learns that the hardworking employee is supporting three families, and is about to lose her home.
Fairground in Texas with Fred – O’Donnell is paired with driver Fred at a carnival fairground. His job that day is to clean out the portable toilets. Fred is refreshingly positive, despite his dirty job. “I call it the battlefield of poop,” he says to O’Donnell. the team is tasked with cleaning out 15 portable toilets every hour, but O’Donnell can’t keep up. “There’s a lot more to this than I thought,” he tells Fred.
Trash collection route with Janice – O’Donnell spends the last day with Janice on a trash collection route where she services 300+ homes and works 12-13 hours every day. she complains about corporate directives and a work environment that is difficult for female workers. Janice explains that she doesn’t have the time to go off-route to use the bathroom, and shows him O’Donnell the can she uses instead. O’Donnell becomes emotional and says, “I didn’t think I’d have these emotional issues riding on the back of a garbage truck.”

O’Donnell returns to the Waste Management corporate office, takes back the reins and reveals his true identity. He tells his senior staff, “I think the things I’ve learned will change the way we do business forever.” in the end, all five employees made an impact on the chief executive. their lives happily changed for the better after their interactions with O’Donnell:

Sandy is pleased that the company changed its time clock policy. the recycling facility reports improved production and morale, and recently received an award.
Walter left his job at the first landfill, and now motivates thousands as the company’s Health Mentor.
Jaclyn hired two new employees to replace her at the landfill, and now works as a customer account manager for WM.
Fred said O’Donnell’s praise changed his life. He left Waste Management for a position in a hospital where his positivity affects people’s lives.
Janice was assigned to a task force that recommends ways to make the company more friendly for female employees.

Although “Undercover Boss” seemed a bit staged at times, the overall impact was positive. the new reality show provided a look at everyday unsung heroes who toil in the trenches day in and day out. One can only hope that other corporate executives will see how the decisions made in the boardroom trickle down and affect its everyday workers.

Tune in next week, when the CEO of Hooters goes undercover and finds employees misbehaving, instead of going above and beyond, like the employees of Waste Management.

So, what did you think? Did you enjoy the premiere of “Undercover Boss“? be sure to leave your comments below.

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“Undercover Boss” gets down and dirty

'Undercover Boss' gets down and dirty for positive change

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pm and is filed under Undercover Boss. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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