Restaurant boss who stood by man's medical condition

[RadX]

This deserves a new thread and awareness of this kind lady.  Also how mean people can be and the person who asked for the poor fellow to be sacked.  Karma is a bitch

 

Ms Sharon Guan, 54, (right) defended one of her staff - dishwasher Mr Jimmy Wee, 53 - from an intolerant customer who complained about his skin condition.

TNP PHOTO: PHYLLICIA WANG

 

SHE'S THE RESTAURANT BOSS WHO STOOD BY DISHWASHER WITH SKIN CONDITION

 

WOMAN BOSS WHO DEFENDS EMPLOYEE WITH SKIN CONDITION SAYS COMPANIES SHOULD BE KIND TO THE NEEDY

 

Nov 25, 2015 6:00am

BY NG JUN SEN

 

It was hardly a well-kept secret.

When The New Paper on Sunday wrote about an intolerant customer, who wanted a dishwasher suffering from a genetic skin condition fired over "health reasons", the report went viral online.

His employer stood by his side, saying she would rather lose the customer than lose 53-year-old Jimmy Wee.

Back then, Ms Sharon Guan Xue-er declined to be named because she did not want to be seen as trying to gain publicity for Mr Wee's plight.

Mr Wee suffers from neurofibromatosis, which causes thousands of tumours to grow on his face and body. It is not infectious.

The report, which was published on Nov 15, sparked a hunt by netizens to identify the restaurant as they wanted to "give business" to an ethical company. And they did.

Details of her restaurant, the Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat's Rangoon Road outlet, were posted on Facebook. The restaurant's main branch is in Balestier Road.

Ms Guan, who runs the restaurants with a partner, said she was initially uncomfortable with the notion but was eventually persuaded by customers and the media to come forward.

The 54-year-old said in Mandarin: "I prefer not be identified, but it makes no difference now that we are named.

"I hope that by coming forward, we can convince others to be kind towards the unfortunate and the needy, and for companies not to discriminate in their hiring."

Ms Guan is in charge of all front-end operations at the restaurant, entertaining guests and taking orders.

Ms Guan hired Lok Wei Qiang (right) as a chef, after he was turned down by nine other employers.

The Singaporean is no stranger to hiring staff whom other businesses may reject. (See report below.)

As a getai singer, she frequently participates in events organised by Tanjong Pagar Community Centre to entertain residents at old folks' homes for free.

Early this year, Mr Wee approached Ms Guan after a friend recommended him to the job.

He was hired when a medical check-up showed that his condition will not affect customers.

His job was to clean dishes at the back of the restaurant, avoiding contact with customers.

That was his request, said Ms Guan.

But in March, a female customer called to complain after she saw Mr Wee cleaning dishes at the back of the restaurant.

TNP found out about this when Ms Guan shared the story with us over dinner - her usual way of chatting with customers.

When this reporter asked to write about Mr Wee three weeks ago, she immediately asked to leave her identity and her restaurant out of the report.

PERSONAL

Ms Guan had said then: "I don't want others to think that I am trying to benefit from Jimmy's ill fate. It is his personal story to tell."

The report went viral overnight, with netizens sharing it more than a thousand times on social media.

Even publications in Malaysia and Taiwan picked up the story of Mr Wee, who has been living with the condition since he was diagnosed at the age of seven.

Several readers wrote to TNP to ask about the restaurant's identity but were turned down as per Ms Guan's wishes.

But that did not stop netizens from finding out and revealing the information online.

Since then, the restaurant has seen a small boost in business, though that could be attributed to other factors too, said Ms Guan.

She added: "It would be sad if people dismiss this as a publicity gimmick. Extra business is always good but that is not what I am after.

"I just want to use this opportunity to inform people that the unfortunate and the needy should not be cast aside or feared."

Mr Wee is overwhelmed by the amount of support he has received since TNP broke the story.

He said that the day after the report came out, some customers visited him at the back of the restaurant to offer words of support and encouragement.

He was also recognised in the train and on the streets. Strangers smiled, greeted him and thanked him for sharing his story.

Mr Wee said: "This is the first time something like that has happened to me. I am very happy that more people understand my condition better."

About that intolerant customer who had wanted him fired, Mr Wee had only one thing to say: "If she could be so mean to someone like me then I hope, for her sake, that she doesn't get sick."

I hope that by coming forward, we can convince others to be kind towards the unfortunate and the needy, and for companies not to discriminate in their hiring.

- Ms Sharon Guan Xue-er

 

[Ender]

Whampoa Keng restuarant.. Sounds familiar. Think the male boss story was on a mediacorp 8 story on family business that pass onto generation. He had 2 wives, and both of them lwith children all lives in harmony.. Lucky guy.

[Blueray]

This deserves a new thread and awareness of this kind lady.  Also how mean people can be and the person who asked for the poor fellow to be sacked.  Karma is a bitch

 

Ms Sharon Guan, 54, (right) defended one of her staff - dishwasher Mr Jimmy Wee, 53 - from an intolerant customer who complained about his skin condition.

TNP PHOTO: PHYLLICIA WANG

 

SHE'S THE RESTAURANT BOSS WHO STOOD BY DISHWASHER WITH SKIN CONDITION

 

WOMAN BOSS WHO DEFENDS EMPLOYEE WITH SKIN CONDITION SAYS COMPANIES SHOULD BE KIND TO THE NEEDY

 

Nov 25, 2015 6:00am

BY NG JUN SEN

 

It was hardly a well-kept secret.

When The New Paper on Sunday wrote about an intolerant customer, who wanted a dishwasher suffering from a genetic skin condition fired over "health reasons", the report went viral online.

His employer stood by his side, saying she would rather lose the customer than lose 53-year-old Jimmy Wee.

Back then, Ms Sharon Guan Xue-er declined to be named because she did not want to be seen as trying to gain publicity for Mr Wee's plight.

Mr Wee suffers from neurofibromatosis, which causes thousands of tumours to grow on his face and body. It is not infectious.

The report, which was published on Nov 15, sparked a hunt by netizens to identify the restaurant as they wanted to "give business" to an ethical company. And they did.

Details of her restaurant, the Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat's Rangoon Road outlet, were posted on Facebook. The restaurant's main branch is in Balestier Road.

Ms Guan, who runs the restaurants with a partner, said she was initially uncomfortable with the notion but was eventually persuaded by customers and the media to come forward.

The 54-year-old said in Mandarin: "I prefer not be identified, but it makes no difference now that we are named.

"I hope that by coming forward, we can convince others to be kind towards the unfortunate and the needy, and for companies not to discriminate in their hiring."

Ms Guan is in charge of all front-end operations at the restaurant, entertaining guests and taking orders.

Ms Guan hired Lok Wei Qiang (right) as a chef, after he was turned down by nine other employers.

The Singaporean is no stranger to hiring staff whom other businesses may reject. (See report below.)

As a getai singer, she frequently participates in events organised by Tanjong Pagar Community Centre to entertain residents at old folks' homes for free.

Early this year, Mr Wee approached Ms Guan after a friend recommended him to the job.

He was hired when a medical check-up showed that his condition will not affect customers.

His job was to clean dishes at the back of the restaurant, avoiding contact with customers.

That was his request, said Ms Guan.

But in March, a female customer called to complain after she saw Mr Wee cleaning dishes at the back of the restaurant.

TNP found out about this when Ms Guan shared the story with us over dinner - her usual way of chatting with customers.

When this reporter asked to write about Mr Wee three weeks ago, she immediately asked to leave her identity and her restaurant out of the report.

PERSONAL

Ms Guan had said then: "I don't want others to think that I am trying to benefit from Jimmy's ill fate. It is his personal story to tell."

The report went viral overnight, with netizens sharing it more than a thousand times on social media.

Even publications in Malaysia and Taiwan picked up the story of Mr Wee, who has been living with the condition since he was diagnosed at the age of seven.

Several readers wrote to TNP to ask about the restaurant's identity but were turned down as per Ms Guan's wishes.

But that did not stop netizens from finding out and revealing the information online.

Since then, the restaurant has seen a small boost in business, though that could be attributed to other factors too, said Ms Guan.

She added: "It would be sad if people dismiss this as a publicity gimmick. Extra business is always good but that is not what I am after.

"I just want to use this opportunity to inform people that the unfortunate and the needy should not be cast aside or feared."

Mr Wee is overwhelmed by the amount of support he has received since TNP broke the story.

He said that the day after the report came out, some customers visited him at the back of the restaurant to offer words of support and encouragement.

He was also recognised in the train and on the streets. Strangers smiled, greeted him and thanked him for sharing his story.

Mr Wee said: "This is the first time something like that has happened to me. I am very happy that more people understand my condition better."

About that intolerant customer who had wanted him fired, Mr Wee had only one thing to say: "If she could be so mean to someone like me then I hope, for her sake, that she doesn't get sick."

I hope that by coming forward, we can convince others to be kind towards the unfortunate and the needy, and for companies not to discriminate in their hiring.

- Ms Sharon Guan Xue-er

 

 

complain by female customer ...

[RH1667]

Whampoa Keng restuarant.. Sounds familiar. Think the male boss story was on a mediacorp 8 story on family business that pass onto generation. He had 2 wives, and both of them lwith children all lives in harmony.. Lucky guy.

 

Yes, seems like that's the one from the name,

Lucky guy who have 2 wives and still happily together !!

[Porker]

Props to this boss! Many employers and managers fail to realise that rejects (those who sincerely want a job) are most often the most motivated workers with great attitudes simply because they've tasted rejection and failures countless times.

[RadX]

Props to this boss! Many employers and managers fail to realise that rejects (those who sincerely want a job) are most often the most motivated workers with great attitudes simply because they've tasted rejection and failures countless times.

 

 

totally agree bro.  They know what hardship is and never take things forgranted

[Ender]

Yes, seems like that's the one from the name,

Lucky guy who have 2 wives and still happily together !!

I think the one on the pic is the 2nd wife who runs the "other branch". Since the story feature is in rangoon, this should  be the 'other branch'. the main one is along balestier.

[Loki]

kudos to the boss who is compassionate.  I will go there to give the place some business.

[RadX]

i certainly hope that the lady who wished that repents and does the necessary to make amends....

 

damn....there are such ppl living in this society...sad

[Loki]

Whampoa Keng restuarant.. Sounds familiar. Think the male boss story was on a mediacorp 8 story on family business that pass onto generation. He had 2 wives, and both of them lwith children all lives in harmony.. Lucky guy.

 

I guess this is the true prosperity gospel - treat people with kindness and compassion and you reap peace and happiness yourself.  Says something about how the business is run that it survives a couple of generations.

[RadX]

I guess this is the true prosperity gospel - treat people with kindness and compassion and you reap peace and happiness yourself.  Says something about how the business is run that it survives a couple of generations.

 

 

true that bro.  Good first principles of goodwill and doing good.

[Mustank]

I guess this is the true prosperity gospel - treat people with kindness and compassion and you reap peace and happiness yourself.  Says something about how the business is run that it survives a couple of generations.

 

[2BDriver]

I think the one on the pic is the 2nd wife who runs the "other branch". Since the story feature is in rangoon, this should  be the 'other branch'. the main one is along balestier.

Not along Balestier Road, it is located in Whampoa Food Center at the front row facing a condominium, I am a regular eater there for more than 25 years, shall be there with wife tomorrow.

[Mustank]

complain by female customer ...

 

woman always got a lot of complaints one

very gcp

[RadX]

Not along Balestier Road, it is located in Whampoa Food Center at the front row facing a condominium, I am a regular eater there for more than 25 years, shall be there with wife tomorrow.

 

 

unker post map here...we do meetup there perhaps

[Ender]

Not along Balestier Road, it is located in Whampoa Food Center at the front row facing a condominium, I am a regular eater there for more than 25 years, shall be there with wife tomorrow.

Restuarant along balestier rd.

[RadX]

Restuarant along balestier rd.

 

 

appreciate bro.  WE do our part for folks who do good and help them thrive!

[2BDriver]

unker post map here...we do meetup there perhaps

I meant the first old set up stall in whampoa market, the story of Sharon lady boss happen in the other new branch.

From Balestier Road turn left into Whampoa and the Whampoa market and food center is on your left, their stall is in the market beside the big food center, you can see a condominium beside the market and it along the row of stalls facing the condo.

Tomorrow will snap pictures for you to visualise the stall as well as the steamboat presentation, MU there is not a bad idea for old HDB memories............