Keith McNally has responded to the deluge of press yielded by the announcement that he would be ending the jobs of Balthazar’s bathroom attendants, a decision yielded by an editorial railing against their presence by former Wall Street trader turned Business Insider chief Henry Blodget.
The result: While they will be losing their positions as bathroom attendants, they will be keeping their jobs. Previously, Blodget had—after complaining about the presence of the attendants—lobbied for their employment upon realizing that his rant may have played a part in McNally’s decision.
Oh, but it gets better.
To receive such high-minded advice from a man who’s been charged with civil securities fraud by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a bit like receiving a lesson in business ethics from Bernie Madoff.
We’ll just let this email from McNally speak for itself:
Not content that I’ve agreed with his rather aggressive suggestion that I relieve my bathroom attendants of their jobs, Henry Blodget is now asking me to “hire and train as dining room staff” the people he yesterday petitioned me to fire. Surely, as Balthazar is my restaurant and these are my employees (whom I adore as it happens) I should decide matters myself without the bullying intrusion of Mr Blodget’s high-pitched and high-minded advice.
What’s more, to receive such high-minded advice from a man who’s been charged with civil securities fraud by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is a bit like receiving a lesson in business ethics from Bernie Madoff. Of course, those who have had business dealings with Mr Blodget may say it’s slightly worse.
To give this issue one last flush I’d like to say that any and all Balthazar bathroom attendants I relieve of their jobs will immediately be given another job in my company. They are lovely people and I’d like to work with them forever.
Long live the erstwhile Balthazar bathroom attendants, and long live the Keith McNally e-mail form.