How Andy Puzder, As Labor Secretary, Could Help Family Restaurants Like Mine

13/02/2017
Marla Topliff has been the president of Rosati's Pizza since 1999. She serves as the corporate media spokesperson, manages vendor and store relationships and human resources.

She is Chairman of the National Restaurant Association’s Pizzeria Council and a member of the International Franchise Association, where she serves on the membership and convention planning committees.
There has been quite a bit of conversation surrounding the nomination of Andy Puzder to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. As someone who has followed and been inspired by Mr. Puzder’s continued success, I would like to take the opportunity to share my perspective and hopefully right some of the inaccuracies being floated about him and his record of leadership.

I am the President of Rosati’s Pizza Franchise, an Illinois-based chain of pizzerias with more than 200 locations in 17 states. Although Rosati’s is a small business compared to the footprint of CKE, which Puzder has led for the last sixteen years, there are numerous similarities and several important lessons I’ve learned from Mr. Puzder when it comes to leading a franchise company, despite the difference in our size.

When Mr. Puzder took the reins of CKE, the company was in bad shape, yet in quick order he was able turn it around. His knowledge and leadership armed him with the necessary know-how to develop new strategies for not only growth, but improving the company culture. In knowing and acknowledging that a satisfied workforce is a productive and efficient workforce, Mr. Puzder placed a constant emphasis on listening to his workforce and acting on what he heard. In addition to steering the company out of the red, he dedicated himself to fostering a positive culture – with an eye towards maintaining it well into the future. This proved to be an impressive and successful strategy and is one that many of us in the industry continue to follow today.

In recent weeks, I’ve read news coverage claiming that many CKE employees are discontented, feel mistreated and aren’t given opportunities for advancement. I have a difficult time believing this to be true given Mr. Puzder’s focus on employee value and company loyalty. As a franchisor myself I can state in no uncertain terms that maintaining a balance among franchisees is a delicate challenge at best, yet Mr. Puzder has been able to set standards for maintaining balance while achieving employee satisfaction. Mr. Puzder is the first to say that this is only possible if you take the time to hear from employees and work to ensure they have tools available to take things to the next level.

He has repeatedly has said, “Good employees are every business’s most valuable asset.” As a business leader, this resonates with me and falls directly in line with the strengths of the franchises industry. The industry is structured to give individual franchisees access to the core methods and operations as provided by the franchise company, yet allows them the opportunity to become an individual entrepreneur without reinventing the wheel. The franchise model is one of possibility, making entrepreneurial opportunities attainable for anyone. A core value for American business today.

Currently the franchise industry is facing new threats from various proposals coming out of Washington such as the Joint Employer Bill which could severally jeopardize the entire franchise model. It is just one of many serious problems facing the industry today and we are grateful that Mr. Puzder has taken the lead in standing up for franchisee rights. This is a prime example of the inspiration Mr. Puzder has brought to franchisees throughout the industry to keep the entrepreneurial dream alive. Mr. Puzder’s strong, pro-business stance has given our franchisees new hope that the industry will remain strong through his actions and leadership. I believe he can breathe new possibility into the Department of Labor, creating greater opportunity across America, and can become a true champion for the franchise industry.

Fonte:https://cdn.ampproject.org/c/www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2017/02/13/how-andy-puzder-as-labor-secretary-could-help-family-restaurants-like-mine/amp/

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