Slammed pizza shops hiring laid-off restaurant workers

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A spokeswoman for Pizza Hut’s Dayton-area franchise owner made her help-wanted pitch directly to those who have been laid off elsewhere: “Unemployed, displaced workers: your hometown Pizza Hut has a home and career opportunity for you!”

Pizza Hut’s 20-plus stores in the Dayton area “are looking to add 50 delivery drivers, 20 shift managers, 12 cooks and five general managers/general managers in training to our team at this time. We welcome the chance to provide a temporary home to our fellow service industry workers who find themselves laid off,” said Carol Magazzeni, a spokeswoman for Stow, Ohio-based Hallrich Inc., which operates Pizza Hut’s stores throughout the Miami Valley.

“We embrace the opportunity to provide an income for those who have been displaced during this tough time. And for those who wish to stay, we have long-term career opportunities as well,” Magazzeni told this news outlet in an email.

To apply to Pizza Hut's Dayton-area franchisee, visit jobs.pizzahut.com or text "thehut" (without the quotes) to 242424. For further employment information, contact Ashley Young, director of human resources at amyoung@hallrich.net.

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Domino’s also is in the market for job applicants, and the chain’s local operators are putting money behind the effort.

The franchise owner of 19 Dayton-area Domino’s pizza restaurants has announced it will share all profits with its employees for at least the next 90 days.

“It’s a very challenging time for our whole community,” Tristan Koehler, franchise co-owner of most Dayton-area Domino’s stores, said in a release. “We’ve made a pledge that, starting today, 100 percent of our profits will be distributed to our employees, and this will continue for at least the next 90 days.”

With Domino’s stores still open for carryout and now for contactless delivery as well, the stores are very busy, Koehler said.

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“We’ve been designated as an essential service,” Koehler said. “So we wanted to do something to thank each and every one of our people for coming in. They are working hard day after day. We also feel right about giving away all the profits. It may not be great business, but it’s the right thing to do.”

The local Domino’s franchise is owned by Koehler and Ed Schlater. In addition to the 19 stores they own in the Dayton area, they also operate two stores in Richmond, Ind. They plan on dividing up the profits and giving it to each employee based on how many hours each employee has worked.

“We anticipate that each employee will get a raise between $2 and $2.50 per hour out of this,” Koehler said.

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The franchise owner said his 19-store franchise group hired 50 employees last week, bringing the total to nearly 600. Now Koehler said he is turning his attention to management and kitchen help, areas where newly hired employees require training.

“We are specifically looking for people with previous Domino’s in-store experience and former Domino’s management. Previous pizza experience of any kind is a big plus,” Koehler told this news outlet.

“While state rules are closing dine-in restaurants, the opportunity to feed our neighbors through delivery and carryout continues,” Koehler said. “We want to make sure we’re not only providing food to people, but also delivering opportunity to those who are looking for work.”

Interested persons can apply at jobs.dominos.com.

Another national pizza chain with a significant Dayton-are presence, Papa John’s, announced this week that the company is hiring up to 20,000 new restaurant team members nationwide.

“For anyone looking for immediate ways to earn an income, we’re making it quick and simple to apply, interview and be hired at Papa John’s,” Marvin Boakye, Papa John’s chief people and diversity officer, said in a release. “We want to add talented team members to our Papa John’s family across the country to deliver food safely to our customers’ doorsteps. We are in the unique position — as a restaurant that specializes in delivery and carryout — to help our communities through this crisis.”

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In most cases, applicants can expect to have an interview and potentially start the same day, Papa John’s officials said.

To learn more or apply, visit jobs.papajohns.com or text JOBS to 47272.