Chapter 3 - THE WORKERS WHO PAID TWICE.
The Lighthouse Society had been created by Walter and twelve diner workers after the chain nearly failed during the recession.
Employees surrendered raises, overtime and retirement contributions to keep locations open. In return, they were promised ownership shares and emergency meals for anyone unable to pay.
Margaret called the promise outdated.
“Those workers were compensated with continued employment.”
Ethan looked at servers wearing shoes held together with glue.
“They financed your company and received permission to keep working for it.”
The ledger showed Collins charged free meals to employees while billing the society’s charity account for the same food.
Walter’s breakfast had been paid twice before Ethan reached into his apron.
Margaret blamed a bookkeeping vendor.
Walter replied, “Poor workers account for every dollar. Executives lose millions and call it a systems issue.”
Then the beneficiary list opened.
Ethan’s name appeared beside the largest remaining share.
The original holder was his mother, Sarah Cole, a waitress he had been told died with unpaid medical debt.
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Her status was not deceased.
It was “REMOVED BY OWNER.”
