Ep 9. Hamburger Mary's

Undercover Boss is a reality TV show where top executives go incognito and work alongside their employees to discover different issues and challenges of their company. In season 7, episode 9, the CEO of Hamburger Mary's, Ashley Wright, goes undercover to assess the working conditions of her restaurant chain.

Hamburger Mary's is a popular American restaurant that serves hamburgers and other fast foods accompanied by drag shows. Ashley Wright started this chain with her friend ten years back, and now they own several franchises nationwide. However, the CEO is concerned that their growth has compromised the quality of their food and service. Hence, she takes on the opportunity to know the untold stories of her workers and takes necessary steps to improve the work environment.

In the beginning, Ashley undergoes some drastic changes to disguise herself as an ordinary employee. She chops off her blonde curls, puts on a wig, and adopts a southern drawl. She then goes to different franchises with the pretext of a job interview. She meets with four employees from different locations, each with their unique stories. Ashley's first stop is Denver, where she works alongside Lilly, a server. Lilly shares her heartbreaking story about her daughter's medical condition and struggles to pay the bills. Ashley takes note of this incident and offers Lilly a paid day-off to spend with her daughter.

Next, Ashley goes undercover in Chicago and meets Rowan, a kitchen trainer. Rowan is a former drug addict who lost everything and found solace working in Hamburger Mary's kitchen. Ashley is moved by his story and becomes friends with him. She observes how Rowan trains the new employees and learns that their company training standards have been inconsistent. Ashley assures Rowan that she will take steps to improve the training process.

In Houston, Ashley works alongside Abbie, a bartender who raises her mentally challenged brother alone. Ashley admires Abbie's strength and dedication towards her brother and understands how difficult it is for her to balance a job and her responsibilities as an elder sister. Ashley gives Abbie a surprise gift that makes her emotional and grateful.

Lastly, Ashley works in Los Angeles with Bryan, a server. Bryan comes from the Latinx community and has been a part of the LGBTQ+ movement. Ashley realizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, seeing the efforts of Bryan and his colleagues in fighting against discrimination.

At the end of the show, the CEO reveals her identity to the four employees and offers them personalized gifts and an opportunity to advance in their careers. She also implements necessary changes to improve the work environment. Ashley acknowledges the hard work and dedication of her employees and promises to support them in all aspects. The show ends with a sense of hope and gratitude towards the individuals who make Hamburger Mary's a successful franchise.

Overall, Undercover Boss S07E09 is an emotional yet empowering episode. It highlights the significance of empathy, diversity, and inclusion in any workplace. The show encourages the audience to value the untold stories of every individual and inspire change for the better.