I thought "hmmm, that's strange. Vegetales?"
Shouldn't that be verduras? Of course, I don't really speak Spanish, so I have no idea.
Later on this morning, I once again found myself grateful to work where I do. I really enjoy my work, my boss is really easy to get along with (and demanding - it's a killer combination for those of us who enjoy being challenged at work), and I'm also lucky to work with a couple of my fellow bears -
yoginca, for example, has saved my butt so many times, paperwork-wise, that it's not even funny. Anyhow, another one of the bears sent around an E-mail yesterday with word of a boycott of certain El Pollo Loco restaurants (for you non-Californians, it's kind of like our Chicken Treat or Red Rooster, but with grilled chicken). Turns out one of their local franchisees gave $6,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign, so the gays have decided to boycott his stores only. I was delighted to finally see an 8-related boycott e-mail that was actually accurate and level-headed about it all. And this morning, he forwarded a follow-up E-mail from El Pollo Loco's corporate PR office, which I thought was a really good response.Money quote: "I honestly believe that anger directed at El Pollo Loco over Prop 8 is ill advised, but it is certainly your right to eat wherever you want to eat. You will be missing the world’s greatest chicken."
Full text here:
Dear Seth—
As an executive of El Pollo Loco, I received your email indicating your intention to stop eating at our restaurants because one of our franchisees made a personal donation in support of California’s Proposition 8. I voted against Prop 8. On a personal level, I not only understand your anger, I share it.
You have shared your opinions with us and we have read them. But before you decide El Pollo Loco is tainted forever due to one person’s political donation, I respectfully ask that you let me tell you about the El Pollo Loco I know.
Six years ago, I joined El Pollo Loco. During my interviews, I asked my boss-to-be, the President/CEO, if the company offered domestic partner insurance because I would need it to cover my partner. He said, “Actually I don’t know, but it’s clearly the right thing to do, so if we don’t already have it, we’ll get it.” I am very proud that one of my first jobs was to announce that El Pollo Loco now offered domestic partner insurance coverage.
How many companies can you name that have an out gay or lesbian on their executive team? My female partner and I will celebrate our twentieth anniversary later this month.
My partner has participated in all El Pollo Loco events that include “spouses/partners”, which is the language we use on invitations to those events. Our relationship has never been treated any differently from the heterosexual relationships of the rest of the El Pollo Loco management team. I do not hide our relationship in any way. Her picture is on my desk.
One of my staff’s responsibilities is to investigate and resolve employee complaints. Feel free to ask anyone on my staff about the prompt and serious employment consequences for anyone caught making disparaging comments about gays or any other group.
El Pollo Loco has almost 5,000 employees. We also franchise the El Pollo Loco brand to other companies. Those franchisees combined probably employ another 10,000 people. Of course a group that large will include people with varying political perspectives. I am not aware of a single one who donated as an El Pollo Loco representative to support Prop 8. The only time the Prop 8 issue came up in the context of El Pollo Loco was when I received a complaint from a customer that the staff in one of our restaurants had put Post-It notes all over the cash registers and counters saying “Vote No on 8!” We told that restaurant’s staff the same thing I will tell you. People are encouraged to vote their beliefs, but El Pollo Loco is a restaurant company and we do not take positions on political issues.
I honestly believe that anger directed at El Pollo Loco over Prop 8 is ill advised, but it is certainly your right to eat wherever you want to eat. You will be missing the world’s greatest chicken.
Put me on your mailing list and I will join your efforts in those areas where I believe they are being done responsibly, appropriately and with all the facts right.
Sincerely,
Jeanne A. Scott
Senior Vice President
Human Resources & Training
El Pollo Loco, Inc.
(snip)
Here's the list of restaurants owned by Roland Spongberg, the franchisee who donated to the Yes on 8 campaign:
(818)
El Pollo Loco #3525
El Pollo Loco #3532
El Pollo Loco
(323)
El Pollo Loco #3526 3925 Sunset Blvd.
El Pollo Loco #3504 5151 State University Dr. CSULA Golden Eagle Bldg.
El Pollo Loco #3507 1360
El Pollo Loco #3528 6929 Eastern Av.
(310)
El Pollo Loco #3531< 3008
El Pollo Loco #3214 3125 W. Century Blvd.
El Pollo Loco #3529 1141
(626)
El Pollo Loco #3461 7639
(562)
El Pollo Loco #3457 2727
El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco #3448
El Pollo Loco #3392 2200
El Pollo Loco #3322 3502
El Pollo Loco #3545 3425
El Pollo Loco #3488
(951)
El Pollo Loco #3494
El Pollo Loco #
El Pollo Loco #
El Pollo Loco #3477
(949)
El Pollo Loco #3458 2232
El Pollo Loco #
(714)
El Pollo Loco #3453 120 No.
(661)
El Pollo Loco #3371 8200
El Pollo Loco #
El Pollo Loco #3475 3701
(909)
El Pollo Loco #3506 1090 S. Mt. Vernon.
(858)
El Pollo Loco #3565 4330
El Pollo Loco #3564 8349
(619)
El Pollo Loco #3563 3444
El Pollo Loco #3562 494 Broadway.
