‘Every Food Fits: “What’s Up, Doc?”‘
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’
This Saturday, November 13th starting at 10am at TEAISM’s Penn Quarter location, the Restaurant Opportunities Center of DC (ROCDC) is organizing DC’s first ever Carrotmob to promote paid sick days for DC restaurant workers.
You might say: “But Rebecca, what the heck is a carrotmob?” And up until 15 minutes ago, I would have responded “I have no clue. Perhaps a pack of redheads angrily waving orange vegetables?” And, unsurprisingly, I’d be dead wrong.
In reality the term “Carrotmob” comes from the phase “use the carrot, not the stick,” and is a method of activism in which consumers use their buying power to reward businesses that take socially responsible actions.
The TEAISM mobbing is in response to the Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act, which passed two years ago and provides 3-7 days of paid sick/safe leave to many District workers. However, the law left out your server, waitress, waiter, and bartender, so they’ve been working (aka serving you) while they’re sick. Despite this TEAISM has gone above and beyond the call of duty and provides all their workers 5-7 sick days; They are indeed truly worthy of a good old fashioned carrotmobbing.
You can join the mobbing by visiting the Penn Quarter TEAISM this Saturday and by RSVPing at the event’s Facebook page.
A born and bred New Yorker, Rebecca made the big trip “down south” to DC in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. She spends her days strategizing/planning/ideating how interactive products can help her clients and change the world. In her free time, she explores DC’s ever expanding bar, restaurant and small business scene, plays a crap ton of soccer, attends concerts that contribute to her sleep deprivation and embarks on local adventures. Read why Rebecca loves DC or follow her on twitter.
I love Teaism and I definitely support any business that goes the extra mile to provide benefits to their employees, but I’m unclear why anyone would want to have their business deliberately mobbed at a specified time.
Having a group descend at a set time, all wanting to spend money, pretty much guarantees that the regular customers will be annoyed, the employees will be overrun and no one will get the service that the restaurant hopes to provide.
Why not call out a specific day, or week, to ask people to stop in at their leisure? They could even mention the event, or flash a downloadable “carrot” card to let the restaurant know that they are in support of their business practices. Just a thought.
@M I definitely agree with you. No shop wants to be mobbed to the point of chaos and disturbance.
They do say “starting at 10am” so hopefully not everyone will be up and at ’em on Saturday morning.
We’re actually organizing a fast track lane with Teaism for the carrotmob:) Teaism will be ready to receive us and their regular customers.
And at 11:30 we will have a short program with Councilman Tommy Wells, the Employment Justice Center, ROC-DC, and restaurant workers presenting Teaism with a golden carrot!
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I would assume that part of the mobbing is to spend some money, which I bet Teaism is okay with :)
@ Bonnie – glad to hear about the organizational efforts, and thanks for calling attention to businesses that are supporting their employees.
Oh good, I was worried about them too, I love the fast lane idea! Thanks, Bonnie!
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