Eric Gets an Earfull
Inevitably, some of Bonnot's fellow workers resent their low wages. After learning that Bonnot's annual salary is nearly $143,000, Mara asks the GM if he would consider a cut in his own pay to increase the wages of workers on the lowest rungs of the Burger King ladder. In an obviously awkward moment, Bonnot can only reply: "I work very long hours."

"So do we," Mara tensely replies. "Sometimes when you're on ground level you feel like you're so far away from management, from the people who can actually make a difference." Other employees complain that the staff lockers have been broken for years; customers express irritation over policies against providing boiling water to the public (for fear of lawsuits in the event of scalding); many employees feel the company's incentive programs are unclear as well as unfair.

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