The inhospitable Zagats

Well, at least when it comes to their own employees. Portfolio's Jeff Bercovici says that the average Zagat employee is in a perpetual search for work - so much so that the company being up for sale might turn out to be a morale booster. The place is run by Tim and Nina Zagat, who to their credit have built a publishing empire on what started out as a few loose leaf pages of dining recommendations that were passed around to friends and family. But these days the Zagats micromanage everything, to the point where even their son Ted resigned his post as COO (he told co-workers that his parents are "strong personalities"). Apparently, they have an old-fashioned view of business (the NYT refers to the company's Web business as "underleverged"). But here's the best nugget:

Although it didn't affect the bottom line, the Zagats' reluctance to delegate proved an issue at a 2006 company party held on the roof of their Central Park West townhouse. Despite the open bar, the hosts didn't think to rent portable toilets for the occasion, nor did they want employees entering their home to use the bathrooms. Instead, suffering underlings were instructed to "hold it."