Bigger than burgers and fries, franchising blamed for low wages

Bigger than burgers and fries, franchising blamed for low wages
Bigger than burgers and fries, franchising blamed for low wages

Bigger than burgers and fries, franchising blamed for low wages

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This week, the series Front and Center has been investigating a business model known as franchising. It’s a way for a brand-name company to have small-business owners run its locations. Franchising can be efficient and help keep consumer prices down. But critics point to low wages and poor work conditions in heavily franchised industries like fast food and convenience stores. We hear how franchising works in commercial cleaning. Some janitors say they should not be treated as franchisees and that they deserve to earn at least the minimum wage. WBEZ’s Chip Mitchell and Shannon Heffernan have the story. Photo Credit: Flickr/_WLI