SouthEast Waffles and Waffle House Corporate Where do I start? There has been so much widespread corruption and unfounded mistreatment of employees between these 2 companies for well over a decade. Nashville, Tennessee

I've read all the comments on this site about WH. I worked for WH twice over a span of 13 years. First as a Manager for Southeast Waffles in 1999 and 2000 in Nashville, TN. Then a few months as a cook for Waffle House, Inc in 2011/12. I am familiar with some of the names I've seen, because I worked with them in the past. Forget about being loyal and good to them; they abuse their employees at all levels in every shape, form, and fashion you can think of.

It doesn't surprise me Jim Shaub of Southeast Waffles is being investigated for check kiting and with holding or lying about employees income taxes - I complained about this in 2000. Nor does it surprise me Joe, Jr of Waffle House, Inc. has sexual harassment charges against him - Right or wrong, being a victim of accusations like the ones he ignored over the years, is a position he rightfully deserves.

Most of the complaints I've seen here by former employees and customers are believable because I've worked and lived it with Waffle House. They have changed dramatically the past 15 yrs or so. Not the WH that most of us grew up with, for they are by and large a group of gossiping, slanderous criminals and thugs.  Both companies lie about pay entitlements and bonuses. In fact, they do everything in their power to NOT pay you when you abide by the contracts. Hopefully, I'll never set foot in one again. No decent, honest person with ambitions of climbing to the top should even consider working for Waffle House.

Back in 99 and 2000, I was a District Relief Manager for SE Waffles. Verbal abuse and non-ethical treatment from upper management was common. I put on a happy face for WH and did my utmost to be positive in my integrity, despite vicious, unfounded attacks from all levels. I caught a manager snorting drugs at a WH, manager and employees stealing in collaboration, managers giving out preferred treatment in exchange for sexual favors. Some of that with minors. Regional and Area MGT ignored and intentionally mistreated those of us that were honest. I worked countless hours, often doubles and triples, and most times had to work on my scheduled days off.

I can recount many horror stories, but among the worst to me was when Area Manager Clay Carrington went out of his way to torment me and a few key employees. He had money deducted from my bonuses to pay for the money and food thefts committed by a manager and employees, despite witnesses and recorded evidence. Also, on one of my days off, I was called into handle a shift change at Trinity Lane WH. Clay shows up, out of the blue, with some BS paperwork he wanted me to sign on a situation I knew nothing about. While explaining to the idiot that we were too busy and we had to complete shift change and take deposit to bank, someone else stole money from the office safe. He tried blaming me for that too. But, that was typical Clay Carrington. Clay also had this nasty habit of waltzing into any WH during business hours and yell at busy employees in front of customers. Always spouting some imaginary rule he made up instead of jumping in to take care of customers. But that was typical Clay Carrington. His way or the highway. He was the prime example of immature leadership lacking discipline in SE Waffles. I could never get him to calm down long enough to have a mature, level headed conversation on anything. And there were many other managers like him. SE WH headquarters ignored everyone's complaint about him and a few abusive Districts and Store MGRS for a long time.

After I worked out a respectful 3 week notice I gave in writing and in person to all my bosses, they tried to deny I did so. They also owed me over $1200 in pay.  About 1 month after this,  I was self-employed and meeting a client at the WH on Donelson Pike. I was totally embarrassed when the MGR came out saying I had been disbarred, which baffled me. I then discovered there was a made up story about me hitting an employee, along with statements I allegedly made and where my signature had been forged. I discovered later, the employee in question quit and walked out because they tried to force her to sign the accusations and she refused. Throughout all of this, I remained largely quiet, never speaking ill of SE Waffles.

Everywhere I went, it seemed I was running into a WH employee with damaging news that I was saying this or doing that. I should have sued them, but I rose above it all and eventually moved to a much better place away from that company of thugs. That kind of drama has no place in my life. Somewhere in a box, I still have some documentation supporting my claims.

In 2011, I went to work for WH, Inc as a grill operator. They don't pay more than minimum wage and the pay is far less than it was 10 years ago. They don't consider past experience or formal degrees for management fairly, despite their claims that they do. I was lied to about what they would pay me and denied Master Grill Operator, despite passing the tests with flying colors. When I called Corporate Office to inquire about the MGO program, they seemed clueless. I was always on time, but was written up for being late twice by one manager, the excuse being 'I should have known to come in earlier than my scheduled shift'. Same manager never talked to the ones that came in stoned or whenever they wanted to.

Several times, I actually have to intervene when a manager was talking back to different customers who had valid complaints. I was actually written up for doing exactly what a district manager told me to do to rectify a complaint, because I always had a good relationship with customers. WH management no longer encourages good customer relations.

There is always the matter of employees slandering fellow employees and spreading lies about customers. Also jabbering away on cell phones and smoking at the front door, ignoring customers. I lost count of how many times I allegedly called out, got drunk at work, or that I was in jail somewhere. I don't drink and I never called out. I don't recall being in jail. I quietly worked out a 2 week notice and never set foot in one again. Months later, I still get calls asking me to fill in. They still don't understand, I am gainfully employed w/out loss of sleep or ridiculous calls from WH employees I never met...asking me to do this and that.  WH is full of idiots that don't understand there is a world outside of the WH environment I intend to stay in. Never again will I work for them. I'd rather starve.