Inspire Brands

Atlanta, United States

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company that owns and operates popular brands including Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', and Sonic. The company focuses on building a diverse portfolio to deliver a range of dining experiences across its brands.

CCI Score

-45.34

0.04% May 3

Latest Event

NBC News Investigates Roark Capital's Treatment of Workers

The investigation highlights Inspire Brands' controversial labor practices, including allegations of wage theft, poor working conditions at franchise locations, and aggressive lobbying efforts against the Raise the Wage Act, which collectively undermine workers' rights.

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QUISLING

Inspire Brands is currently rated as a Quisling.

-44 to -59 CCI Score

These companies are fully aligned with authoritarian regimes. They not only support but also enforce oppressive policies, playing a significant role in the regime’s operational apparatus and contributing directly to its consolidation of power.

Latest Events

NOV

12

2021

NBC News Investigates Roark Capital's Treatment of Workers
-41.46

The investigation highlights Inspire Brands' controversial labor practices, including allegations of wage theft, poor working conditions at franchise locations, and aggressive lobbying efforts against the Raise the Wage Act, which collectively undermine workers' rights.
-70

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

Inspire Brands actively lobbied against the Raise the Wage Act by sending memos to franchise owners, reflecting a deliberate effort to oppose policies that would improve workers' wages and rights. This use of political influence to maintain lower labor costs is deeply concerning.

NBC News Investigates Roark Capital’s Treatment of Workers
-60

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 19

The investigation reveals serious issues in labor relations at Inspire Brands' affiliated restaurants, including wage theft, inadequate tipping practices, and poor working conditions. These practices notably compromise the human rights and dignity of workers.

NBC News Investigates Roark Capital’s Treatment of Workers
-40

Regulatory Capture

March 19

Inspire Brands' aggressive stance against minimum wage legislation and its reliance on regulatory loopholes indicate a pattern of economic influence that prioritizes corporate profits over fair labor practices, further entrenching structural inequities.

NBC News Investigates Roark Capital’s Treatment of Workers
MAR

27

2021

Inspire Brands Lobbying Against $15 Minimum Wage and Union-Friendly Legislation
-45.12

Inspire Brands has documented efforts to influence legislation by lobbying against a $15 minimum wage increase and opposing union-favorable policies such as the PRO Act, raising serious concerns about its impact on labor rights and democratic processes.
-70

Public and Political Behavior

March 19

Inspire Brands actively engaged in political lobbying by publicizing its successful efforts to block the $15 minimum wage and oppose union-supportive legislation. This use of corporate influence in shaping legislative outcomes undermines workers' rights and demonstrates complicity in fostering policies that can contribute to authoritarian tendencies.

This Fast Food Giant Bragged About Killing $15 Minimum Wage
-80

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 19

The company's actions in downplaying the need for a higher minimum wage and resisting unionization efforts reflect a disregard for fair labor practices. Employees working at substandard wages, coupled with public admissions of such strategies, point to ethical shortcomings and a prioritization of profit over worker rights.

This Fast Food Giant Bragged About Killing $15 Minimum Wage
-50

Economic and Structural Influence

March 19

By leveraging its economic power and close ties with influential private equity, Inspire Brands has been implicated in practices that influence regulatory environments. This regulatory capture, aimed at maintaining the status quo in wage suppression and labor rights, reinforces a power structure that benefits corporate interests at the expense of broader social welfare.

This Fast Food Giant Bragged About Killing $15 Minimum Wage
MAR

27

2021

Inspire Brands Blocks $15 Minimum Wage Increase and Union Rights
-49.45

Inspire Brands has drawn sharp criticism for its internal report claiming credit for lobbying efforts that removed the proposed $15 minimum wage increase from the COVID relief bill and for opposing union rights, reflecting a deep disregard for worker protections.
-70

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

Inspire Brands actively engaged in lobbying to remove the proposed $15 minimum wage increase and to undermine union rights provisions. This reflects a strategy that prioritizes corporate financial interests over democratic labor reforms and worker welfare.

Arby’s Says It Helped Kill the $15 Minimum Wage
-80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 19

By working to block wage increases and opposing labor legislation that supports unionization, Inspire Brands has demonstrated a concerning disregard for labor rights and human welfare, contributing to economic practices that undermine worker power.

Arby’s Says It Helped Kill the $15 Minimum Wage