To help some workers through the COVID-19 pandemic, Wendy’s said it will give a 10-percent bonus to employees at corporate stores.
This includes hourly workers, shift managers, and assistant general managers. The 10-percent increase covers the next five weeks. For company general managers and district managers, Wendy’s protected part of their monthly bonus in March, which is tied to business performance. It will do the same for the monthly bonus in April. The brand is also offering free meals for corporate store employees and discounted family meals for employees on their day off.
“I am humbled by the stories of how our teams and franchisees continue to support our communities by living our core values,” CEO Todd Penegor said in a statement. “From delivering breakfast and hot meals to very deserving first responders, healthcare workers, and grocery store employees, to volunteering personal time to local causes and charitable organizations, I am very proud of how we collectively strive to do the right thing and give something back.”
“Our teams at the Wendy’s Restaurant Support Center and in our field offices are working around the clock to support our restaurants,” he added. “We are all in this together and will weather this storm as one Wendy’s family.”
Wendy’s is continuing to offer service via drive-thru, where applicable, and delivery with DoorDash, Grubhub, and Postmates in the U.S. and Skip the Dishes in Canada. Carryout orders were discontinued at most locations. A certain number of dining rooms are still open for carryout where there’s a specific need or if a drive-thru option isn’t available.
For workers at company-owned stores, the brand implemented paid sick leave to help those impacted by COVID-19.
The company said March 27 that 235 units have temporarily closed, including 46 in the U.S. and 189 internationally. That represents about 3.5 percent of the system. Drive-thru has grown to 90 percent of sales and digital business has grown to 4.3 percent compared to 2.5 percent the prior year. In the week ending March 22, comp sales dropped 20 percent.
To help franchisees, Wendy’s extended deadlines for royalty and marketing payments by 45 days for the next three months and deferred rent on the properties it owns by 50 percent over the next three months. The company has more than $340 million in cash.
