An executive at the multinational restaurant chain Applebee’s hailed rising gas and inflation as good news, because it erodes purchasing power and pressures workers to accept lower wages, according to a leaked email attributed to him and reprinted in newspapers in Europe and the United States. USA.
In the internal message, dated March 9, 2022 and initially posted on the social network Reddit, Wayne Pankratz, executive director of franchises at Applebee’s, says that the soaring inflation in the US means that people will have to work harder to be able to maintain the standard of living. With more workers looking for jobs and overtime to supplement their income, it would be possible to take advantage and offer lower wages.
In the message, the executive also celebrates the end of competition with social benefits paid by the US government. According to the text, people will no longer be able to live on unemployment insurance and other benefits alone, which increases the available workforce.
Pankratz still sees an advantage in the economic downturn over the competition. “Other competitors (especially family businesses and small businesses) will have to raise prices, cut staff or pay less per hour to hit their profit margins. Some businesses will not be able to survive. This will bring more potential employees into the market. “
According to The Kansas City Star, US network spokesman Scott Fischer said the email does not reflect Appleebee’s policies or culture and that Pankratz has no authority to issue any directives related to hiring at the company.
THE sheet questioned Applebee’s, which has 11 units in Brazil, about the veracity of the document and asked for a position on the episode, but received no response until the publication of this report.
On social media, the alleged email was met with revolt by many workers.
The price of gas soared in the US (and also in Brazil) after the war in Ukraine. Economic sanctions on Russia have drastically reduced the supply of oil and natural gas on the international market, putting pressure on fuel prices in general and inflation.
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