A Florida-based pizza restaurant chain called V Pizza found themselves in hot water after one of their Georgia franchisees posted a sign in the window that left customers feeling uneasy. The sign complained about how difficult it was for the franchisee to find employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, blaming government help that had been made available to people struggling to make ends meet as a result of the collapsing economy.
The controversial sign read:
“Sadly, due to government handouts, no one wants to work anymore. Therefore, we are short-staffed. Please be patient with the staff that did choose to come to work today, and remember to tip your server. They chose to show up to serve you.”
When social media users caught wind of the negative vibes wafting out of the Georgia pizza franchise location, they took a snap of the sign and shared it on Twitter, with one user writing: “Bummer to see this coming from @VPizzaJax.”
However, social media users were quick to point out the hypocrisy of the pizza franchise, as several V Pizza restaurants had received millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the federal government to keep employees on staff. The company was able to use the government handout to rehire employees they had been forced to lay off as a result of the pandemic, and the government assistance really helped their business stay afloat.
The owner of the franchise, Paul Scott, condemned the Georgia franchisee for posting the sign and asked them to remove it from the window. He acknowledged that hiring was difficult for everyone due to the low wages typically offered in the industry, with many employees making only $14-$15 an hour. Scott stated that he didn’t blame people for making a smart decision for their family, and while they were understaffed, their employees came in with a great attitude every day, and they supported them in every possible way.
Throughout the pandemic, the state of Florida, led by Governor Ron DeSantis, provided an additional $300 per week to people on unemployment, but they were looking to remove that benefit to get people back to work.
“Now, we’re transitioning from a kind of relief in the midst of a crisis to now having the more traditional re-employment outlook,” DeSantis said in a press conference in May. However, back then Florida is the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States.
In the end, the Georgia franchisee’s attitude towards their employees and the government assistance provided during the pandemic left a bad taste in people’s mouths. Despite the difficult hiring climate, many companies have found ways to support their employees and customers, and it’s essential to treat everyone with respect and understanding during these challenging times.
Source: AWM
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