Posted on 10/31/2004 11:40:54 AM PST by SmithL
ROANOKE -- For telephone company CEO Norm Mason, a vegan and lifelong animal lover, there was never any doubt what he'd offer at his company cafeteria.
Soy steaks and soy sloppy joes, veggie burgers, nachos and other meatless, eggless, butter-free delicacies are cooked daily using heavy bags of texturized vegetable protein.
If that doesn't sound so great, consider this: It's all free.
Mason says he created the "Vegeteria" out of concern for the well-being of his 200 employees of Cat Communications International. So he's giving them all the fresh vegetables, meat substitutes, cakes and drinks they could ever want.
"This was a way to say: 'Look, we don't feel it's right to have the flesh of an animal, an animal killed for your benefit,"' Mason said. "I see it no different than smoking. People are asked to go outside and smoke."
It also will hopefully teach them respect for animals, he says, a value symbolized by Lucille, the paralyzed dog he adopted that follows workers around on a little wheeled contraption.
Bruce Friedrich, a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, says Mason is part of a growing number of vegetarian and vegan CEOS, including Steve Jobs of Apple Computers Inc., Michael Eisner from Walt Disney Co., John Mackey of Whole Foods Market Inc. and Bill Ford of Ford Motor Co., who have made it easier for employees to eat meat-free.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Whacko! L0L
"the only choice is halal, even in the UK now"
Which part of the UK can't you get normal meat in? (I'm not saying you're wrong, BTW, I just haven't come across this)
Euell Gibbons, I swear I heard the news when he died was due to complications from mold in his stomach as in, he ate one of his "natural" things apparently not washed properly.
It must be encouraging for the employees to know that they have a lunatic for a CEO.
I agree totally!!! If you do not wish to eat meat, why the fake meat?
Cuz they're phoney seeking "special" status. It never fails, everytime I've gone out to dinner with a group, there happens to be the one vegOnut, the world must stop and gaze at them nitpicking over their menu selection, holding up the waiter, whining, hand ringing, matyrdom. Pain in the ash!
" Corporate America is not a place to which I would ever return. It is has deteriorated into a refuge for sycophants and trolls. The United Way and alternative lifestyles are lovingly embraced, while the truth of Jesus Christ has become, not only ignored, but forbidden speech. "
ditto that
"...he keeled over of a heart attack... "
So did the guru of organic gardening, J.I Rodale (or maybe it was from cancer...). At age 73. Not exactly Methuzelah.
And Jim Fixx, the guy who popularizized jogging back in the '70s, died of a heart attack, at age 52... while jogging.
The Top 10 purposes that corporate profits should be utilized for.
1.) Stockholder dividends.
2.) Stockholder dividends.
3.) Stockholder dividends.
4.) Stockholder dividends.
5.) Stockholder dividends.
6.) Stockholder dividends.
7.) Stockholder dividends.
8.) Stockholder dividends.
9.) Stockholder dividends.
10.) Stockholder dividends.
But then again, I am a tad old-school.
Kinda wonder how the shareholders feel about this use of company resources to push a personal agenda.
I would still go out for lunch. After all, some people are allergic to soy.
I'd bring in my own Black Angus Delmonico strips, cooked to medium rare, and toss them on the free fresh organic greens.
or outsource yourself to a clime that is more agreeable to your warped taste.
Thank you...
LOL
That was my exact reaction when I read this. Eating vegetarian at lunchtime is healthy. Of course it's nice to have a little mid-morning snack with some of last night's tri-tip.
They've got a beautiful meat department and get the big yuppie bucks there...."Business is Business" applies, I guess.
I'd love to walk into that cafeteria and open up a can of Vienna Sausages.
"However, wouldn't all that money spent be better off in their paychecks? Or to improve their healthcare insurance? Or go towards their retirement? "
Do I detect a little bit of Socialism there ?
Isn't the company owner able to decide where his profits will be spent, even on certain benefits he wishes to give his employees ?
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