Fast-food employees have been the butt of jokes for decades, and with good reason–with annual turnover for the industry topping as much as 50 percent, running a shift can be like monitoring an unruly detention hall. Managers complain about employees who don’t get to work on time, can’t do simple math, can’t run a register–or even worse, misfits who lick taco shells, bathe in the utility sink or do unspeakable things to the nachos. In many cases, owners–and customers–have simply given up on expecting high-quality service.
But the Meritage Hospitality Group, which owns 113 Wendy’s locations, including 48 in Michigan, isn’t giving up. In fact, while the entire Wendy’s franchise goes through a reboot that includes updating its logo, rolling out new décor and uniforms and revamping its menu, Meritage is taking an extra step, cleaning out dead weight and bringing onboard 10 well-trained workers to every store in Michigan. That’s almost 500 new employees–a monumental task, but one Meritage hopes will take its stores to the next level.