Andy Puzder: A ‘Labor Secretary Who Actually Knows What It Is Like To Have Worked Behind A Counter’

Andy Puzder
CEO of CKE Restaurants

Employees Praise Puzder’s ‘Employee-Centered’ Philosophy Which Provides Opportunities And ‘Flexibility,’ ‘It’s An Awesome Place To Work’
Puzder Is Credited With Turning Around Carl’s Jr. And Hardee’s, Allowing The Company To Now Employ Over 75,000 American Employees
“Andy Puzder was raised in a working class community in Cleveland, Ohio. Andy’s father took a job selling cars after returning from WWII where he served in the U.S. Army in Europe. Andy’s mother was one of 9 children and earned her high school diploma by attending classes at night because she had to work a day job.” (“Bio,” Andy Puzder Website, Accessed 2/10/2017)

• “To earn his way through school while supporting his family of four he was a jack of all trades, including: an ice cream server at Baskin- Robbins; landscaping and tree removal; construction work—operating a jackhammer and laying bricks; and house painting. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college, and a law degree at Washington University.” (“Bio,” Andy Puzder Website, Accessed 2/10/2017)

“While practicing law in St. Louis, Puzder met Carl Karcher, the founder of the Carl’s Jr. quick-service restaurant chain... He is credited with resolving Karcher’s financial dilemma, allowing Karcher to avoid bankruptcy and retain a significant ownership interest in the company he founded, CKE Restaurants, Inc.” (“Management Team,” CKE Restaurants Website, Accessed 2/10/2017)

• “In 1997, Puzder was also named Executive Vice President and General Counsel for CKE. In 1997, CKE purchased Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., which owned the Hardee’s quick-service restaurant brand... Puzder is credited with turning around both the Hardee’s brand and CKE, allowing the company to survive, become financially secure, and return to growth.” (“Management Team,” CKE Restaurants Website, Accessed 2/10/2017)

“Mr. Puzder has been the CEO of CKE ever since. The company has prospered under his management. It is now a quick-service food organization that owns or franchises more than 3,700 restaurants in the United States and around the world with FY16 sales for all Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants (company-owned and franchised) reaching $4.3 billion and employing more than 75,000 in the U.S...” (“Bio,” Andy Puzder Website, Accessed 2/10/2017)

CARL’S JR. AND HARDEE’S EMPLOYEES: ‘My Success Would Not Have Been Possible Without Andy Puzder,’ ‘Hardee’s Was The Only Place Willing To Take A Chance On Me’

Flor Palacios’s First Job Was At Carl’s Jr. And Rose Through The Ranks: ‘I Have God, Carl’s Jr., Andy Puzder And My Own Hard Work To Thank’
FLOR PALACIOS, former Carl’s Jr. employee: “Little did I know at the time, I’d spend the next 28 years of my life with that company, moving through the ranks of crew person, assistant manager, general manager, district manager and finally director of operations for the Los Angeles market... My success would not have been possible without Andy Puzder, the CEO of CKE Restaurants (Carl’s Jr.’s parent company) and U.S. labor secretary nominee. He saved Carl’s Jr. from looming bankruptcy and instituted an employee-first workplace culture that allowed it to thrive. As labor secretary, he would replicate this success across the country.” (Flor Palacios, Op-Ed, “Hard Work, God And Carl’s Jr.,” The Orange County Register, 1/22/2017)

• PALACIOS: “[Andy Puzder’s] philosophy was that if you take care of your employees and franchisees, they will take care of the customer, which will take care of the bottom line. It’s a refreshing approach that is in short supply in today’s corporate world. In practice, this meant various scholarship programs, college funds, management training programs and business development seminars promoted by Andy. Many of my colleagues and I took advantage of all of them. My management degree, which has allowed me to succeed at the highest levels of corporate America, was paid for by CKE.” (Flor Palacios, Op-Ed, “Hard Work, God And Carl’s Jr.,” The Orange County Register, 1/22/2017)
• PALACIOS: “Andy’s approach also meant a focus on growth, meaning new products, locations and marketing. Though growth is often derided as a strategy that doesn’t help regular workers, it created thousands of new opportunities for employees like me. Such an employee-centered growth model with an appreciation for the broader value of entry-level jobs is exactly what the country needs on a grander scale. . . I went from living in the housing projects to living in one of the most desirable places in the country. I have God, Carl’s Jr., Andy Puzder and my own hard work to thank.” (Flor Palacios, Op-Ed, “Hard Work, God And Carl’s Jr.,” The Orange County Register, 1/22/2017)

Patsy Eskilson: ‘Hardee’s Was There For Me’ ‘To Get Back In The Workforce’ With ‘Flexible Hours’ So She Could Help Care For Her Grandchildren
PATSY ESKILSON, Hardee’s employee: “Only those who have spent significant time outside the workforce truly know how difficult it is to reenter it. The hard truth is that employers simply don't like seeing big gaps between work experience. This is a major challenge for the millions of people across the country who have been without work for some time. Those lucky jobseekers who are able to find work again are forever thankful to the businesses that took a chance on them and allowed them to work again. For me, that business is a Hardee's franchise outside of Jacksonville. After a string of rejected applications elsewhere, Hardee's hired me immediately, giving me the opportunity I needed to display my skills. Hardee's wasn't just a place for me to get back in the workforce. It's where I want to work long-term because it's the best place I've ever worked. And after almost a lifetime in the restaurant industry, that's saying something.” (Patsy Eskilson, Op-Ed, “I'm A 59-Year-Old Part-Time Biscuit Cook At Hardee's. And Yes, I Love My Job,” IJR, 2/01/2017)

• ESKILSON: “I’ve held almost every restaurant position imaginable, including positions with managerial responsibilities. But after a bad experience working at a local diner and some health problems, I was surprised how difficult it was to find work again. It seemed like no one wanted to hire an unemployed 59-year-old who was a bit overweight. But Hardee's was there for me. At the moment I'm a part-time biscuit cook there, a position that I love and take seriously. The position provides me the flexibility to pursue my full-time passion: my grandkids.” (Patsy Eskilson, Op-Ed, “I'm A 59-Year-Old Part-Time Biscuit Cook At Hardee's. And Yes, I Love My Job,” IJR, 2/01/2017)
• ESKILSON: “Like millions of grandparents across the country, I watch my grandkids part-time, so my daughter can save on childcare costs. There aren’t many job opportunities that provide such flexible hours for someone like me. But my manager recognizes that many of her employees have unique personal circumstances, and her policy is to do everything she can to accommodate them. Her policy is that if she keeps her employees happy, she’ll keep her customers happy. It must be working; she’s been with Hardee’s herself for over 30 years.” (Patsy Eskilson, Op-Ed, “I'm A 59-Year-Old Part-Time Biscuit Cook At Hardee's. And Yes, I Love My Job,” IJR, 2/01/2017)
• ESKILSON: “Hardee’s was the only place willing to take a chance on me. I’d like to think it made the right decision. I have brought valuable experience to the store and have mentored the younger employees, many of whom quickly move on to other opportunities.” (Patsy Eskilson, Op-Ed, “I'm A 59-Year-Old Part-Time Biscuit Cook At Hardee's. And Yes, I Love My Job,” IJR, 2/01/2017)

Carl’s Jr. Helped Employees Turn Their Lives Around, Hiring One ‘On The Spot’
“Corina Ortiz joined an Oregon Carl's Jr. four months ago after working as an exotic dancer for four years. She took an entry-level position and has already begun rising through the ranks after just four months at the company. Ortiz was recently promoted to shift manager, as was her sister. She said that she hopes to remain in the industry and open her own store in the future. ‘I enjoy what I'm doing so far,’ she said. ‘It’s a great place to work.’” (“Fast Food Employees, Franchisees Back Puzder for Labor Secretary, Defend CKE,” Washington Free Beacon, 1/31/2017)

“Cherie Abarquez got a job at a California Carl's Jr. after stopping into a store with her sister and children. She had lost custody of her children, while battling drug addiction, and was able to bring them back into her home after getting a job. She was hired ‘on the spot’ and is scheduled to become shift leader in six weeks. She said the job has benefitted her with a ‘flexible schedule’ that has enabled her to pick up and drop off her children from school. ‘It’s an awesome place to work. I love being there,’ she said.” (“Fast Food Employees, Franchisees Back Puzder for Labor Secretary, Defend CKE,” Washington Free Beacon, 1/31/2017)

CARL’S JR. FRANCHISEES: ‘Puzder Would Be A Rare Labor Secretary Who Actually Knows What It Is Like To Have Worked Behind A Counter, Because He Did’
CHERY DOERR, Carl’s Jr. director of operations and franchisee: “I know Andy Puzder and I would guess many of his critics do not. . . During my 34 years with CKE, I worked hard and rose through the ranks from a Carl’s Jr. hourly employee to district manager to regional vice president before I became a partial owner of a franchise. I’ve known Andy Puzder for just shy of a decade and during that time he has always treated me fairly and equitably. . . Puzder challenged me to step up my game to constantly build new skills because being successful in this business and being a successful franchisee brings opportunity for everyone, from the crew on up.” (Cheryl Doerr, Op-Ed, “Puzder: A Labor Secretary Who Knows The Meaning Of Work,” The San Diego Union-Trubine, 1/26/2017)

• DOERR: “I am proud of what I’ve accomplished in my career and I’m equally proud of the company that gave me the opportunity to succeed — and I thank Andy Puzder for being a guiding force for me and the many others like me who he has supported in their careers. I hope by putting my thoughts on paper for others to read will help open eyes and minds about Puzder. Having someone leading the Department of Labor who has firsthand experience with creating jobs and opportunities for workers and businesses alike will be good for America. I know Andy Puzder is that person.” (Cheryl Doerr, Op-Ed, “Puzder: A Labor Secretary Who Knows The Meaning Of Work,” The San Diego Union-Trubine, 1/26/2017)
• DOERR: “Many of the people holding signs of protest do not even know Andy Puzder. They don’t know that he is someone who cares about the people around him. They don’t know that he is someone who asks about his colleagues’ families and truly connects with his employees. They don’t know that he is someone who understands that service businesses, like restaurants, are most successful when workers are happy. Otherwise, quality suffers, service is lackluster and customers don’t come back.” (Cheryl Doerr, Op-Ed, “Puzder: A Labor Secretary Who Knows The Meaning Of Work,” The San Diego Union-Trubine, 1/26/2017)

DOERR: “Puzder would be a rare labor secretary who actually knows what it is like to have worked behind a counter, because he did. In fact, working hourly wage jobs is how he worked his way through school. Andy Puzder is not some fancy bureaucrat who may talk a big game about ‘being for the worker’ but has never had a job that required a uniform with a nametag.” (Cheryl Doerr, Op-Ed, “Puzder: A Labor Secretary Who Knows The Meaning Of Work,” The San Diego Union-Trubine, 1/26/2017)

“Jennifer Dowling, a small businesswoman who operates a New Mexico Carl's Jr. franchise, opened her first restaurant in 2005 and expanded to a second one in August 2016. She employs more than 50 people and her management team has all been promoted in-house. Dowling said on Tuesday that Puzder's experience in the private sector would benefit American workers and employers . . .” (“Fast Food Employees, Franchisees Back Puzder for Labor Secretary, Defend CKE,” Washington Free Beacon, 1/31/2017)

• JENNIFER DOWLING, Carl’s Jr. franchisee: “[Andy Puzder] understands the needs of employees at all levels of the economy from entry-level workers to corporate executives. . . He will bring this same vision and leadership to the role of secretary of labor.” (“Fast Food Employees, Franchisees Back Puzder for Labor Secretary, Defend CKE,” Washington Free Beacon, 1/31/2017)

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