What’s Up With That?

Today I landed at San Francisco International Airport today for a little trip. Being hungry I stopped by the Burger King in the terminal. And below the menu board is this sign:

1% EE BENEFITS SURCHARGE APPLY TO ALL MENU ITEMS

Hmm…

So I ask the cashier what the sign means.

Not really sure. Benefits for us, I guess.

How much of the 1% goes to the employees?

I don’t know.

Is there an ordinance or regulation that requires posting of the sign?

I don’t know.

So is it cheaper for me to buy a #2 meal, or to purchase the items separately?

I don’t know.

Okay, should I buy a menu item to help you out?

I don’t know.

Okay, if I buy the #2 Combo Meal how much is the surcharge?

I don’t know.

Let’s see, a #2 meal is $7.99. How much extra do I have to pay for the surcharge?

I don’t know. My boss said it is a couple pennies.

I never did figure out why they posted the sign. None of the other food outlets in the airport had similar signs. If it was meant to motivate the Burger King employees, it wasn’t working. The average wait for your “fast food” order was around 5 minutes. I would guess about 50% of the people who got into the order line left because of the wait. Plus, if employees don’t understand what’s in it for them how does management expect it motivate them?

Gotta love San Francisco. Always see something new and wacked-out every time I visit. Anyway, I bought my usual Burger King fare; Double Whopper with Cheese combo meal. And there on the receipt was the charge; “EE Benefit  $0.08.”