Imagine this. You work for a major restaurant chain, and you have your 4 pm to 11 pm shift. Although it's not the best time to work, at least the hours are consistent. Then, let's say on a Thursday, corporate calls your restaurant. To be honest, it's not that big of a deal. Corporate has called you before. Usually, it's a routine check-up; they just want to make sure everything's running smoothly. Well, not this time. This time, they've called to inform you that the location will be closing tomorrow. So much for two weeks' notice.
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Major Restaurant Chain Shutters Location
An Applebee's in St. Petersburg, Florida, closed over the weekend. And while yes, normally this isn't news, it's the way they handled the closure that makes it news.
According to an employee of the restaurant on Reddit, "The lease for the building was ending and corporate decided the location didn't make enough money to stay open. The workers got a days notice that they were all losing their jobs."
Just a single day's notice. That is wild work, no matter what company you're working for. Let alone a massive restaurant chain like Applebee's.
One day, all the employees have jobs and the next day they're's a sign hanging on the door that's thanking the locals for 'many years of business'.
On Facebook, it was revealed that some of the employees didn't even get the full day's heads up. Some got as late as a seven-hour notice. Now, I don't have any legal experience, but that feels like it should be illegal. But I guess maybe it isn't?
Applebee's Is Having Some Issues?
Well, they're definitely having communication issues, I can tell you that much for free.
They had to have known that the lease was running up for years. And the decision to not re-up on the lease was also definitely made years in advance. Just tell your workers!
This is just the most recent closure in a small series of closures for Applebee's. Dine Brands Global, which is Applebee's owner, reported a 2.2 percent decline in sales during its first earnings call of the year.
Hopefully, the restaurant can get back on its feet as it continues to pump out meal deals. They may also just need to hire a few new communications specialists.
