Wayne Pankratz, a top executive at Applebee’s in Missouri sent a callous email to his fellow executives. He wrote that high gas prices are a plus, as it straps the employees who live paycheck to paycheck.
The email, which was sent to executives at the franchise group that operates the Applebee’s, was later forwarded to the Lawrence store. The manager of the store, Jake Holcomb, received a copy of the email from a co-worker.
After seeing it, he gave everyone in the store their food for free and didn’t bother closing the store.
The email portrayed high gas prices and inflation as an opportunity for the company to rebuild its workforce and pay lower wages.
“Most of our employee base and potential employee base live paycheck to paycheck,” Pankratz wrote in the March 9 email. “Any increase in gas prices cuts into their disposable income. As inflation continues to climb and gas prices continue to go up, that means more hours employees will need to work to maintain their current level of living.”
“The labor market is about to turn in our favor,” the email continued.
Mr. Pankratz has since been fired.
Wayne Pankratz of @Applebees says that higher gas prices are great for business because most employees live check to check and hopefully they can start lowering wages. pic.twitter.com/BiRfeSmsYX
— Rob Gill 🇨🇦❤️🇺🇦 (@vote4robgill) March 23, 2022
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High gasoline is a big minus. But inflation leads to higher wages. The exec was citing some economic realities. Many businesses cannot find help. Government payoffs (extended unemployment, covid payoffs) make people reluctant to work. A family business near me is shut down, it cannot find help. That business does not have the resources as Applebees does to find and… Read more »
I just called a friend I have lunch with almost weekly after we go sit in on the County Board meetings. We will not be going to Applebee’s anymore. We picked a local mom and pop shop to eat at from now on. Maybe we should push the County Board to raise Franchise fees for the these national chains too!… Read more »
Crapplebee’s?
No room for Frankenfood.
Let the dullards believe that the WOKE crocodile will eat them last.
By ceding any ground, they have already lost.