Burger King Franchise Owner Accepts Award, Sells Prizes, And Gives Workers The Money

Burger King is the home of the Whopper, but it’s also home to one of the most generous franchisees in the U.S. (and maybe the world).

The Barnett Management Company runs a chain of Burger King restaurants in Arizona, and when owner Tom Barnett was honored by the fast food company with the “Franchisee of the Year Award,” he didn’t rush out and buy a Corvette or a Rolex for himself to celebrate.

He didn’t have to, because Burger King gave him one of each. According to Syracuse, Tom decided that getting rid of them would be the perfect way to say “thank you” to his employees.

Yep, Barnett sold both big-ticket items, threw in some of his own money, as well as some of the money volunteered to him from employees at his corporate office. Together, Barnett Management was able to amass a $120,000 fortune that it then redistributed to around 100 of its workers.

Bonuses ranged from $100 to $5,000, Fox 10 Phoenix added in a separate report.

In a country where income inequality is a fact of life and Americans in the working and middle classes fume every time they hear of a CEO, who loses money for the company, getting a seven-figure bonus, Tom Barnett is, for many, a ray of hope.

His company’s 24 restaurant workers were, by all accounts, satisfied in knowing they had performed as well as they did. They didn’t expect their boss to do what he did, and Tom’s actions show that the feeling of appreciation is mutual.

Veteran restaurant manager Charity Callahan, who works at one of Tom’s stores, admitted as much.

“He’s very humble, very nice, very kind man. He’ll come in to the restaurants, go back in to the kitchen, shake hands, talk to every one of the staff members here,” she told Fox.

As for that bonus, Charity said that it made everyone feel “very grateful, appreciated, valued, definitely wants to make you want to get up the next morning and come to work again.”

Fernando Enriquez, another of Barnett’s managers, told the site he was able to pay off his car.

“It is special because we as managers, we know there’s good people on top. We’ll almost do anything for them and we are and that’s why we ended up on top this year and for sure, we want to end up on top next year,” he added.

Do you think Burger King Corporate and other companies could learn a thing or two from Tom Barnett and the Barnett Management Company? And what’s the nicest (or meanest) thing that your bosses have done to/for you? Sound off in the comments section.