Fran works six days a week in fast food, and yet she's homeless: 'It's economic slavery'

The Guardian ^ | 22 August 2017 | Dominic Rushe

[IYAS9YAS]

Let’s see. $950 minus labor. So let’s raise her pay 50% to $15.00/hr. Labor goes from %76.00 to $114.00. So now labor is 114/950 or 12%. A 4% increase. So Popeyes increase prices 4% and that is a catastrophe to you people?

Yeah, 4% for one person. How many other people work there? I'd say at least 15 total to cover various shifts/days. Now re-run those numbers.

[Patriotic1]

I have to agree. My sister has 3 kids as a single mom. The father pays $600/month inn child support. He's gone deadbeat and operates in cash to avoid paying. They were married for 8 years or so. I never would have expected that from him.

Focusing on whether she was married makes us look like jerks - many people were. It takes 2 to stay married, 1 to get divorced.

[servo1969]

Giving her more money won’t make her any smarter.
- 37
- single mother of two
- fast food worker for 22 years
This woman clearly has an IQ in the 80s.

And, jeez loueez, has anyone read through the comments under the article?
What a bunch of mamby-pamby socialist/communist bleeding heart BS!

‘This should not be possible!’
‘Fast food chains should pay their hard working staff a living wage, which keeps pace with inflation. Surely, one of the big “four” fast food companies should step up and set an example to all that they value their staff. This would be good for their business and good for their staff!’
‘People always act like socialism is a bad thing!’
‘It is a disgrace that a country as rich as America lets this happen!’
‘Left me with tears in my eyes. Social justice and livable wages now!’
‘Capitalism is structurally unable to provide an adequate standard of living for the working-class!’

These losers couldn’t start and run a profitable business if you put a gun to their heads!
But they sure as hell know how to spend other people’s money, don’t they?

[GOPJ]

Here is the problem. “Marion, 37, a single mother of two” Where is the father in this family? Is he paying child support?

Dominic Rushe also 'forgot' to mention food stamps, subsidized housing etc... In short this pity party story left out most of the truth...

[IYAS9YAS]

Yeah, 4% for one person. How many other people work there? I'd say at least 15 total to cover various shifts/days. Now re-run those numbers.

Meh, pre-caffeine. That $950 is one shift. Even if they're down, there are would have to be at least 4 people per shift.

I'd be willing to bet more. So even assuming only 4 on her shift, that's 16% increase in price of food, assuming they're all making only what she makes, which, given her lack of upward advancement after 22 years, tells me they're all likely making more than her, so now you're probably talking a 20% increase in the cost of food. Not a good move.

[Rusty0604]

She says she likes working in fast food and she’s good at it. If that’s the case, you would think after 22 years she would have made manager.

[mountn man]

Focusing on whether she was married makes us look like jerks - many people were. It takes 2 to stay married, 1 to get divorced.

I understand the point you are trying to make, but...

1-the article is the one that mentions that she is a single mom.

2-her being a single mom has no bearing on the financial obligation an employer has.
It's not the employers fault she is single.

[JudyinCanada]

Hmmm. Seems to me that President Trump wants to give young blacks better choices in education and rebuild their run down neighbourhoods. He wants them to have opportunity for decent jobs and to work their way out of poverty (the ONLY way out).

I noticed that this lady (who looks like a man) has enough money to keep a dog and smoke cigarettes. Weird, that.

[hal ogen]

It would be interesting to hear the fast food manager’s perspective, to see her spending habits and to see if she receives any sort of government assistance. Usually, there is more to these sob stories.

[mountn man]

Have you looked at the requirements for being a franchisee???

Potential candidates should meet the following criteria:

1.Applicants MUST have restaurant operating experience and previous ownership in a multi-unit food service operation in the market that the applicants desire to develop.

2.Applicants MUST have substantial retail development experience within the local market proposed for development.

3.The number of restaurant franchises required to develop will be determined by Popeyes® after conducting an analysis of the market’s potential. Generally, Popeyes® will not consider any markets with a development requirement of less than fifty restaurants.

4.Applicants MUST possess sufficient capital to fund the development of the market. We currently grant franchises on an area development basis. The minimum net worth requirement is $1,000,000 USD per restaurant franchise to be developed that must be liquid cash or cash equivalents.

http://company.popeyes.com/franchise/international/franchise-process/

All restaurants don’t have to be built at one time, but are on a time frame for development.

As one store gets up and running (3-5 years) it’s time to sink that money into a new store or 2.

[Hulka]

After so much time working fast food and she isn’t at least a manager or director, that tells you a lot about her inabilityty to perform higher-level duties.

[JudyinCanada]

One look at the friend’s apartment speaks volumes. Filthy dirty and junk everywhere. I also noted that the friend has some tatoos - last time I checked, they cost money.

Honestly, I’ll bet the money is spend on drinking, smoking, maybe some drugs, and crappy groceries.

[central_va]

Poor Fran. The owner is making 340K profit on a 1 million dollar investment. A three year payback.

She is getting screwed.

[Pining_4_TX]

I’m sure they fail to mention that she qualifies for numerous government benefits. How about local churches and other private charities? There are several huge, rich churches in the area that are full of guilt-ridden liberals and these churches exist solely to give away stuff to make themselves feel good. Also does she not have family that can help her out? How old are the kids? Can they get part time jobs? She says society is all messed up. Society is not responsible for individuals’ life choices. Every time you hear about all the folks living in poverty, remember that non-cash government benefits are not counted as income.

[submarinerswife]

She is a crap worker. Entry level at 37 shows me the women can’t keep a fast food restaurant job and never could.

[central_va]

She probably has an IQ in the 90's if she is lucky. Maybe she has reached the top of her Maslow's hierarchy of needs. She is doing her best perhaps? Who knows.

So maybe we should create internment camps and fire up the ovens for the lower IQ members of our society. Is that what you want? Would that make you happy?

[mountn man]

The $340k profit you quote doesn't include loan interest or franchise/royalty fees.

3.5%-4.0% (maybe more) for a business loan

Royalty Fee: 5.0% of gross sales

Local Advertising Commitment: 4.0% of gross sales

Advertising Fund: 0.8% of gross sales

$1 million business loan = $35k in interest.

$1.5 million in gross sales = $150k in franchise fees.

Now take the remaining profit and stick it into another store that you're required to develop.

[mountn man]

Every time you hear about all the folks living in poverty, remember that non-cash government benefits are not counted as income.

Went to this sight

http://www.eitcoutreach.org/help/single-2-children/

Calculated a single person making $25k a year would get $4333 in EITC

Not to mention she would pay $0 in federal income tax anyway.

The only taxes out of her check would be FICA and MAYBE some state income tax.

[moovova]

I’ve eaten in a Popeyes one time. The food was good but too spicy for me.

The service was a smiling miracle on steroids...they were great.

I’m not going to guess who this lady voted for in the last three presidential elections (or if she voted), but the man that’s President right now is expanding the economy at lightening speed. Hopefully, she’ll take advantage of this expansion.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Well that sounds real good but the truth of the matter is that fast food jobs are considered entry level not career positions. You are supposed to use Popeye’s to prepare yourself for something better.