http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011006/us/burger_king_burns_1.html <I> <B>Burger King Workers Burn Feet</B> MIAMI (AP) - About a dozen Burger King marketing-department workers burned their feet when they walked over white-hot coals at a meeting intended to promote bonding. One woman was taken to a hospital emergency room, and Burger King brought in a doctor to treat others whose feet were blistered. Some workers used wheelchairs the next day when they went to the airport to leave for another company retreat. More than 100 employees at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo participated Wednesday in the firewalking, a ritual with origins in religions of the Far East. The Burger King workers had to sign a waiver acknowledging they might get hurt. The injured employees suffered first- and second-degree burns. Mildred Morse, a Burger King administrative assistant, was the most seriously hurt. She was released from Baptist Hospital on Thursday. ``You're walking over hot coals, and something can happen,'' said Robert Kallen, owner of The Achievement Group, which ran the event. ``The majority of the people get through it without a nick or a blister.'' A certified instructor, Kallen has led thousands of participants over coals that can be as hot as 1,200 degrees. Dana Frydman, vice president of product marketing for Burger King, was injured but had no regrets about the event she helped organize. ``It made you feel a sense of empowerment,'' Frydman said, ``and that you can accomplish anything.'' </I>
It's funny, those "Walla-Walla" ads on the radio for Accountemps -- those are closer to the truth than it would appear.
OK, not to knock anyone's career choice or anything, but really.... ``It made you feel a sense of empowerment,'' Frydman said, ``and that you can accomplish anything.'' After mastering where the pickles, lettuce, and tomato go, when to remove the patties from the conveyor belt, and to remember to remove the fries when the annoying buzzer goes off, what else is there to master? Was walking on hot coals really going to motivate a fast food staff to do these things better? More efficient? Or would it rather scare the $hit out of them? If it were me, I would say to myself,"Sheesh, I can walk on hot coals, but I work HERE. I wonder if Barnum and Bailey are hiring."
<B>``It made you feel a sense of empowerment,'' Frydman said, ``and that you can accomplish anything.'' After mastering where the pickles, lettuce, and tomato go, when to remove the patties from the conveyor belt, and to remember to remove the fries when the annoying buzzer goes off, what else is there to master? </B> To be fair, it was the marketing department employees, rather than the front-line employees. However, I'm not sure what these people "accomplished"? They were empowered knowing they can walk over hot coals and burn their feet? ANYONE can do that! Now, if they managed to not get injured, fine. However, that one that gave that quote was one of the injured, so she didn't accomplish ANYTHING!
"More than 100 employees at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo participated Wednesday..." "Some workers used wheelchairs the next day when they went to the airport to leave for another company retreat." The marketing people sure do retreat a lot. I'm sure the front line people appreciate their sacrifices. BTW -- Does anyone recall seeing a BK commercial lately? Know what their slogan is? The marketing people need to get motivated, or spend some retreat money on advertising!
That's odd, because I've always read that walking on hot coals isn't dangerous because a layer of ash forms on top of the coals that should insulate your feet from being burned. That and you scoot your ass across there right quick.
Puedlfor: Wouldn't scooting your ass across hot coals be even worse than running across very quickly?
I met a guy who had done it a couple of times. The first time, he went over about 10 feet with no problems. Later, he went to another thing that had about 30 feet of coals. So he did it, looked at the coals, lost his concentration, passed out and fell in the coals.
