I think what got people really upset was the guy who had just put in his notice to go to another job with better pay and they convinced him to stay on. He was laid off a short time after the episode wrapped. He became one of the faces of the company when they put him on the show and it came off pretty cold-hearted.
Here is what the creator of Undercover Boss had to say about the episode:
Most of the stories we’re lucky enough to tell on the series are inspirational, and many times conclude with the boss offering life-changing rewards for the hardworking frontline employees. Sometimes stories don’t end so perfectly, and we present those to the audience as well. In the case of Peavey, something unfortunate happened after we completed filming, which changed Thresa and Michael’s stories in a significant way…and we don’t believe the episode would have been accurate without this updated information. Thank you as always for being loyal viewers and fans.
Best regards,
Stephen Lambert, Creator/Executive Producer, UNDERCOVER BOSS
“You’ve gotta riff like your mojo’s magic…
Let your fingers fly like lightning unleashed…
Make your notes scream with the unbridled passion of a soul on fire…
And boogie like the Thunder of the Gods!” LP 1974