Applebee’s franchise exec fired over leaked email

An Applebee's franchise executive has been fired over a leaked email that drew backlash online.

Wayne Pankratz, a mid-level executive of Apple Central Group, an Applebee's franchisee with stores in the Midwest, reportedly said in the letter that higher gas prices are a good thing for the restaurant chain because it would mean employees would work longer hours for lower wages.

"As inflation continues to climb and gas prices continue to go up, that means more hours employees will need to work to maintain their current level of living," he said in the email.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Pankratz was a Queen City Applebee's employee as recently as 2012.

Read more from the Springfield News-Leader.