# How real or fake is Undercover boss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708 "2012-01-16T17:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/1 "2012-01-16T17:32:14Z")
I happened to catch Undercover Boss Sunday night. I’ve only seen a few episodes in the past few years. This one was a bit different because the employee at the call center made a lot of mistakes with the hotel booking software. The undercover boss got pissed off and blew his cover. He went into the managers office and confronted her about the piss poor training. Usually they seem to assign the companies best employees to work with the undercover boss. They are always cheerful and thrilled with their jobs. 😛 I’ve never seen a lazy employee on this show. No one suggests stopping for a coke & smoke break at a convenience store while they are supposed to be out making service calls. No one drives way too fast or reckless in the company truck. :dubious: Also, nearly every employee has a sick relative, huge mortgage or a two hour commute. Obviously its a heavily staged show. With great employees carefully selected. Are there any news articles about how this show is shot? Is it totally fake or is the boss really there unloading heavy boxes all day? Its fun seeing a six figure salaried boss grunting and sweating. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/2 "2012-01-16T17:44:29Z")
It’s real but the company has to provide an employee to show the new guy (undercover boss) around. No company would ever volunteer a disgruntled slacker so you get the cream of the company crop. And I’m also sure that the producers work with the employer to get someone with a sob story that will make for a nice “i’m gonna help you out” story. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/3 "2012-01-16T17:47:27Z")
I’ve seen episodes when the undercover boss was working with under-performers. It was not pretty and when he revealed who he was (later in the show) the worker was horrified. Most of the time they are given a chance to redeem themselves. One epilog I saw, the worker had quit. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/4 "2012-01-16T17:54:25Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > It’s real but the company has to provide an employee to show the new guy (undercover boss) around. No company would ever volunteer a disgruntled slacker so you get the cream of the company crop. And I’m also sure that the producers work with the employer to get someone with a sob story that will make for a nice “i’m gonna help you out” story. There’s also the fact that even most irresponsible employees aren’t going to misbehave while the cameras are rolling. That’s not to say that they’ll be delivering a top notch performance, but they likely won’t be goofing off, taking unscheduled smoke breaks, spending an inordinate time bitching about management, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/5 "2012-01-16T18:00:52Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > There’s also the fact that even most irresponsible employees aren’t going to misbehave while the cameras are rolling. That’s not to say that they’ll be delivering a top notch performance, but they likely won’t be goofing off, taking unscheduled smoke breaks, spending an inordinate time bitching about management, etc. I don’t recall ever seeing an employee complain about his soul-crushing job and poor pay. That could either because they don’t want to complain on in front of the cameras or the company provides well gruntled employees. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/6 "2012-01-16T18:02:44Z")
Do the employees have to sign releases after they find out about the boss, before their segments get shown? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/7 "2012-01-16T18:26:06Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I’ve seen episodes when the undercover boss was working with under-performers. It was not pretty and when he revealed who he was (later in the show) the worker was horrified. Most of the time they are given a chance to redeem themselves. One epilog I saw, the worker had quit. The only episode of this show that was any good was the Hooters one because the CEO was absolutely furious about the actions of the employee he was following. He practically blew his setup because the guy was doing things that were highly unethical, and if not straight up illegal, at least legally perilous from a liability standpoint. (For example, he was humiliating the women publicly, mostly for his amusement, in order to “win” things like being able to go home early from a shift. For example, he made them all eat plates of beans with no silverware, like a pie eating contest, so they’d all have to bend over and get all sloppied up for his giggles. When asked what the limits were for this sort of thing, he grinned and said there were “no rules”.) But yeah, in general terms, they get put with people who are considered star employees, I’m sure. There’s probably not too much to find. The sob story employee parts are lame but I guess they have to reality-it-up. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/8 "2012-01-16T18:33:12Z")
I saw last night’s episode, as well, and holy crap was that guy a DOUCHE. A former British special forces bodyguard to check out the hotel? Really? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/9 "2012-01-16T18:38:00Z")
I liked the one where the undercover boss essentially was fired for not meeting his quota on the assemble line. The supervisor who was trying to train him was really nice, but in the end, he couldn’t do the work. HEre’s a recap of the episode from March 2010 with call center person who really didn’t do well: GSI Commerce [http://www.workbabble.com/2010/03/undercover-boss-gsi-commerce-episode.html](http://www.workbabble.com/2010/03/undercover-boss-gsi-commerce-episode.html) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/10 "2012-01-16T18:47:19Z")
The episode last night was Diamond Resorts. video - where the boss confronts the manager about the poor training. > **[Diamond Resorts CEO Breaks Cover In Anger On 'Undercover Boss'](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/undercover-boss-diamond-resorts-break-cover-video_n_1208200)** > > Diamond Resorts CEO Breaks Cover In Anger On 'Undercover Boss' > [@](#): > > The company motto, as Cloobeck was so proud of saying, is simply, “Yes.” He doesn’t want a client to ever hear the word “no,” and so he was at a complete loss when working alongside Sarah at the call center. > > Not only was she saying “no,” but she didn’t fully understand the software package she was using, nor was she adequately prepared to handle certain customer situations. > > Cloobeck was so beside himself, he broke character and revealed his true identity to her. Sarah was terrified she was going to lose her job, but Cloobeck tried to assure her he saw it as a training issue and not her fault. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/11 "2012-01-16T20:45:02Z")
How do they explain the cameras to the staff? They must wonder why a new employee has their own camera crew with them. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/12 "2012-01-16T21:04:35Z")
In the first series, the excuse for the cameras was that they were filming a documentary about the life of a new employee. But now that the show has been on for a couple of years, there must be people who suspect what’s going on. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/13 "2012-01-16T21:05:00Z")
They typically tell the employees that the undercover boss is filming a new reality show, where s/he and another (usually unseen on episodes) individual compete for a job with the company. Other ruses I’ve heard them describe were profiling someone who lost their job in the economy and their current, struggling search for a new career. Last night’s CEO was seriously douchey-lame. He is the only one I recall seeing rejecting staying in accommodations equivalent to what the person he’s pretending to be would need. Humbling himself seems outside of his abilities. On another note, “The Meaning of Yes” is right up there with “Is This Good for _The Company?_” in cheesy, stupid, laughable company mottos. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/14 "2012-01-16T21:09:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > How do they explain the cameras to the staff? They must wonder why a new employee has their own camera crew with them. I read in the paper they just filmed an episode with the Toronto Transit Commission, and the excuse they made was that they were filming a documentary about a woman getting back into the workforce. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/15 "2012-01-17T01:02:16Z")
If I caught wind of my fellow employee having their mortgage paid, or being provided with a week’s vacation at a resort, or given tuition for school, to say I’d be major pissed would be an understatement. I’d be hard pressed to think of someone I work with who doesn’t have some sob story and could use a vacation or cash tossed their way. To do it for one or two employees, but not offer something to everyone? No way. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/16 "2012-01-17T02:52:28Z")
The company I work for will be featured in a couple of weeks. The episode was taped last June. We were told it was a documentary, pretty much as hogarth described. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/17 "2012-01-17T03:04:04Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I saw last night’s episode, as well, and holy crap was that guy a DOUCHE. A former British special forces bodyguard to check out the hotel? Really? Your assessment of the Diamond Resorts CEO is widely shared. The CBS Undercover Boss FB page is loaded with negative comments. The Diamond Resorts FB page has them, too, including accusations they deleted far more negative comments than actually remain on the page. ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/18 "2012-01-17T04:56:58Z")
The show just seems so scripted to me… ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/19 "2012-01-17T05:13:27Z")
He didn’t exactly seem like a boss that’s easy to work for. 😃 The Starsearch model trophy wife, bodyguard, and ridiculous stubby cigar, the dude seemed pretty much like a caricature business tycoon. I’m surprised he didn’t blame the employee in the call center. Instead he realized it was bad training. I noticed they didn’t say at the end of the show what happened to the Call Center Supervisor. They mentioned the boss man was going to personally go there and lead a training session. Doesn’t sound too good for the Supervisor. 😃 > [@Duckster](#): > > Your assessment of the Diamond Resorts CEO is widely shared. The CBS Undercover Boss FB page is loaded with negative comments. The Diamond Resorts FB page has them, too, including accusations they deleted far more negative comments than actually remain on the page. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708/20 "2012-01-17T16:22:10Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I’ve seen episodes when the undercover boss was working with under-performers. It was not pretty and when he revealed who he was (later in the show) the worker was horrified. Most of the time they are given a chance to redeem themselves. One epilog I saw, the worker had quit. More than one. And from the way they phrased it on several of those guys (“So-and-so is no longer with the company”), I got the distinct impression they were fired. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-real-or-fake-is-undercover-boss/609708.md?page=2)