What staffing requirements must a franchisee of Aw maintain at their Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree to staff the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant with the number of managers, assistant managers and employees sufficient to operate the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant in compliance with this Agreement and the standards and specifications in the Operations Manual and to provide proper customer service during all hours of operation.
You shall hire all employees of the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, be exclusively responsible for complying with all employment laws and for all employment decisions and functions related to the operation of the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, including hiring, firing, compensation, benefits, work hours, work rules, recordkeeping, supervision and discipline of employees and other terms of their employment.
You must implement a training program for said employees that meets our standards.
You agree to require all employees to maintain a neat and clean appearance, and to wear uniforms meeting our standards and specifications as we may require, for the protection of the Marks and brand .
You agree not to recruit or hire, either directly or indirectly, any employee (or former employee for six (6) months after his or her employment has ended) of a Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant operated by us, our affiliate or another Papa Ray's Pizza franchisee without our prior written consent.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 32–33)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must staff their Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant with enough managers, assistant managers, and employees to meet operational standards, provide adequate customer service during all operating hours, and comply with the Franchise Agreement and Operations Manual. The franchisee is responsible for all employment-related decisions, including hiring, firing, compensation, benefits, work hours, recordkeeping, and employee discipline.
Aw franchisees are also responsible for implementing a training program that meets Aw's standards for their employees. All employees must maintain a neat and clean appearance and wear uniforms that meet Aw's standards to protect the brand's image.
Franchisees are prohibited from recruiting or hiring any employee (or former employee within six months of their employment ending) from a Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant operated by Aw, its affiliates, or another franchisee without prior written consent. This restriction aims to prevent the poaching of trained staff within the franchise system.