GSI Commerce CEO Michael Rubin Gets "Boxed In" on Undercover Boss

Undercover Boss on CBS aired Sunday night, featuring GSI Commerce CEO Michael Rubin posing as a holiday season worker Gary Rogers. GSI Commerce is a company that, among other things, designs websites and fulfills orders on behalf of major corporations like the NFL, Major League Baseball, and GNC. This episode of Undercover Boss saw Michael Rubin almost blow his cover prematurely because he was angry at a call center worker. For he perceived rudeness from her over a customer complaint.

Undercover Boss Showed GSI Commerce Head Michael Rubin Being Overwhelmed by All Those Boxes

The wife of Rubin described him as a workaholic, and the businessman himself said that his business is first priority. He began by loading trucks and separating boxes at a fulfillment center in Kentucky, and had a hard time keeping up. But of course, there was a tireless, ideal seasonal worker, like there always is on Undercover Boss, showing him how to do things right. She was named Rashelle, who had great ideas to help her productivity and even had to endure getting hit in the face with a box by Michael Rubin.

The GSI Commerce CEO then went to a call center in Florida to learn what people in "Escalations" have to deal with; that is, angry customers who aren't happy with their orders. Michael Rubin just about blew his top at Danielle, because in his mind, she was rude to a customer who refused over and over an "after the fact" credit upon being overcharged. But to counter that on Undercover Boss, call center worker Adam touched Rubin's heartstrings by being super polite to irate customers. Adam confided that the only time he was fired was when he didn't show up for work after his daughter died.

Shannon, a mother of two boys, could pack 90-plus boxes an hour at the fulfillment center in Kentucky, and really left Michael Rubin in a cloud of dust. The GSI Commerce CEO had trouble labeling the packages and was too slow - so much so, he was fired by the packing supervisor. Cameron, a "picker" at another fulfillment center in Kentucky, also moved the GSI Commerce CEO because he rose out of homelessness, takes pride in being a fast worker, and for taking care of and visiting his daughter, who was in the break area.

GSI Commerce Michael Rubin Gives Generous Rewards at the End of Undercover Boss

The payoffs came at the end of the show, but Danielle was left out of getting goodies from the head honcho. Not only was she admonished for her attitude, but she was to be re-trained. But at the end of Undercover Boss, it was mentioned that Danielle doesn't work for GSI Commerce anymore. The driven Rashelle got a full time job with benefits; Cameron got $1000 in gift cards for his daughter's Christmas shopping and was put into a management training program; Shannon was rewarded with $5,000 for her son's football programs, and Adam got ten grand towards his wedding planning.

After several episodes of this show, two things have been made crystal clear: Why are no women playing Undercover Boss so far on this CBS program? Is the premise of this show saying that it's only men who "don't get it" when it comes to being in touch with their underlings? Sob stories continue to be used to sway audiences to like this program, especially those that appeal to parents.

Danielle, via an interview, gives her side of being on Undercover Boss at this Associated Content article here.

Sources:

"GSI Commerce", Undercover Boss, Original airing March 21, 2010, CBS, Mountain Time feed