A restaurant manager accused of bullying staff resigned after customers bombarded his eaterie’s Facebook page with one-star reviews.
It started when Michelle Woods wrote a lengthy, heartfelt account of treatment she claims to have received on a trial shift at the Glasgow restaurant.
Michelle said Via Italia boss Guiliano Delia reduced female staff to tears by bullying and intimidating them in front of customers.
Guiliano Delia was accused of calling female staff members ‘stupid’ and ‘idiots’ and has since resigned from the Glasgow restaurant
She claimed he shouted at staff members, calling them ‘stupid’ and ‘idiots’.
Angry customers of the Union Street restaurant responded by threatening a boycott and leaving at least 40 one-star reviews.
Michelle Woods posted an account of her trial shift to Facebook (scroll down for the full statement) prompting a slew of one-star reviews
Just a few days later, the owners revealed Mr Delia had stepped down.
Michelle worked her trial shift last Saturday and posted her allegations on her Facebook page the following day.
She claimed: “It didn’t take me long to find out what was going on…the manager started shouting at the girls calling them ‘stupid’ and ‘idiots’.
He then went and started slamming his board in front of the girl while hurling abuse at her. Then he stormed in to the back.
“I approached the girl and asked if she was okay she just looked at me and shaked her head. I asked is this how yous are usually treated to which the response was, “No, he gets much worse than that”.
Some users weren’t satisfied with the resignation and called for further action from Via Italia
She continued: “By this point the girls were all nervous wrecks, every one of them looked as if they were about to break down.
‘I had seen more than enough by this point that I had already decided I wasn’t stepping foot in that shop again.
“That was my 3 hours over and 3 hours I will never forget.”
At least 40 one-star reviews have been left on the Via Italia page in response to the alleged abuse of staff
Michelle’s claims prompted dozens of one-star reviews on the restaurant page, including from Craig Taylor, who wrote: “Hospitality Staff tend to be underpaid at the best of times without being subjected to this horrendous behaviour at work!”
Michelle Claire also left a one-star review, she claimed: “Was just reminded of the time we went in on a Saturday lunch time and he was shouting in the back, seems it wasn’t a one off.”
Marika Anna Tomczak said simply: “This place should be shut!”
Lisa Thomson said: “I worked in the industry for nearly 12 years and unfortunately, working in Italian based restaraunts, some times this is the norm.”
Angry Facebook users have called for further action over the reported abuse of young girls working at the restaurant
The under-pressure owners of the restaurant confirmed they would investigate the allegations last Monday and later the same day revealed on Facebook page: “After an internal investigation following today’s comments on social media, the company of Via Italia would like to state that the manager in question no longer works for Via Italia and has resigned with immediate effect.”
The restaurant has not responded to requests for a formal statement.
A call to the Union Street restaurant this morning (MON) asking to speak to Guiliano, was met with the response: “He is no longer with us.”
The restaurant reported the manager had resigned after he was accused of bullying his restaurant workers in Glasgow
Michelle, whose post sparked the storm, responded: “I’m happy – that was the outcome I was wanting.”
Social media users were also pleased that the manager in question had resigned.
Matt Walton said: “Well done them.”
Karen Coyle added: “From what I’ve read the manager resigned, good work guys.”
It has not been possible to contact Mr Delia for comment.
The full account of Michelle’s trial shift at the restaurant was posted to Facebook, prompting outrage at the manager, who later resigned