Valley Pei Wei restaurants launched a hiring frenzy over the weekend following last week’s arrests of 26 employees.
“They are definitely hiring to replace those positions,” said Rachel Gillman, who works for a public relations firm that represents Pei Wei.
Last week, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 26 employees of the Pei Wei Asian restaurant chain, which is based in Scottsdale and is part of the P.F. Chang’s China Bistro group of restaurants.
The arrests came after an investigation found more than 100 workers may have used false documents to gain employment.
Following a newspaper advertisement over the weekend, the Pei Wei website listed job openings at four store locations, including locations in Tempe and Gilbert.
“They are hiring front of the house and back,” Gillman said, noting the available job positions include cashiers, line cooks, dishwashers and more.
On-site job interviews are taking place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday, according to the company’s website.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, an investigation was launched in June after the office got a tip that some employees were illegal immigrants.
Deputies ran surveillance operations on several restaurants and checked corporate records, the sheriff’s office said Friday. Deputies found at least 121 of the company’s 800 employees in Maricopa County appeared to use false documents, including Social Security numbers. More than 100 people who had their identities stolen told the sheriff’s office they will assist in prosecution.
Kiara Jackson, 19, was one of a handful of people waiting for job interviews at the south Tempe store Tuesday morning. The Mesa Community College student said she was just entering the job market again after starting college. She heard about the job openings from the news.
“I guess people who used to work here got their jobs taken away,” she said.
She is hoping her previous restaurant experience will help land a dishwasher or cashier position.
The Tempe location has a sign on the door stating it is temporarily closed. A second sign lists interview times and locations as well as a notice for a signing bonus after a preset time of employment.
Pei Wei operates 19 restaurants in Arizona. The company has been cooperating with the investigation, according to previous releases from the sheriff’s office.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
• Tribune writer Garin Groff contributed to this report.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:59 am on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
YOU GOTTA LOVE SHERIFF JOE AND HIS DEPUTIES.
THEY ARE THE ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA THAT HAS ABIDED BY THE OATH THAT THEY SWORE WHEN THEY WERE HIRED.....TO UPHOLD THE......."LAW"......NOT ..."SOME".....OF THE LAWS... LIKE THE...."SANCTUARY CITY" POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF...PHOENIX, MESA, CHANDLER AND TUCSON DID UNTIL............SB1070 FORCED THEM TO STOP..."CHERRY-PICKING"....WHAT LAWS WERE OR WERE NOT....".POLITICALLY CORRECT"....ACCORDING TO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY...SOCIALIST...LEFT-WING LIBERALS....AND.....MEXICAN ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY ACTIVISTS.
GOD BLESS MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO AND HIS STAFF AND DEPUTIES...........GOD BLESS ARIZONA.....AND GOD BLESS AMERICA ! ! !
az2008 posted at 11:20 am on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
So much for the claim illegal immigrants don't take jobs. I know plenty of people who would love to have those jobs.
Masterrogue666 posted at 12:29 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
So, 121 out of 800 workers used false documents. That's over 15% of the workforce! Imagine NATIONWIDE how these INVADING FOREIGN NATIONALS have INCREASED unemployment of AMERICAN WORKERS!!!!! I'll bet Pei Wei's will have no problem filling their positions!
Further, first it's stated that over 100, than "at least" 121 used STOLEN SSN numbers. Sounds like every last one of the ILLEGAL ALIENS went on to use STOLEN SSN numbers!!! At the very least, it's a VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE!!! Where's all the supporters for these CRIMINALS????!!!! Don't tell me they are innocent! Every last one is a CRIMINAL, that has committed MORE than one crime!!!!
Thank you MCSO for taking care the AMERICAN CITIZEN and THEIR RIGHTS!!!
davidflucier posted at 1:07 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
OK...so now all these hard working Americans have a job...how many of these jobs come with a "living wage" and heath care benefits?
I guess the answer is NONE...so the question becomes, who is subsidizing the healthcare benefits of this "corporation", Pei Wei? Why, it's the good people of Arizona, of course. And certainly not Pei Wei...because it costs too much (for their stockholders and investors).
DrunkenMonkey posted at 1:33 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
Sorry David, but the people have always subsidized the food industry. When minimum wages go up, food or paper cost go up, the restaurants will raise prices. The restaurants aren't going to lower profit margins, not if they want to maintain profit levels. The food service industry for the most part utilizes part time help and almost never has full benefits. (Not all cases)
Waitresses are paid less than minimum wage, so their salaries are paid by the people by way of tips (on top of the cost of food)... so in the end... you've been paying out all along. Glad to let you in on it...
Slabside posted at 2:43 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
OK, so where is Neo-Lib Dale defending the illegals? Dale says they are only here to pick lettuce and tomatoes. Thank you Sheriff Arpaio!![beam]
Will_Travel posted at 4:37 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
David,
The food service industry runs on very slim profit margins. As a result, most jobs are part-time, pay minimum wages and do not include health care benefits. It's the nature of the "beast".
Regardless of these facts, people continue to look to this industry for employment. Few skills are required and can be learned on the job, language skills may not be necessary since many of the jobs are "back-room" with no public contact. But here are 121 jobs that were not available to legal workers and the impact on the lives of those whose identities were stolen is bound to be great. Who subsidized their health care?
BTW, thank you for your service! Is that a 5th Group Flash?
will sends
Slabside posted at 5:53 pm on Tue, Mar 8, 2011.
Go to McDonalds and try to find an English speaker.
Poorman posted at 10:59 am on Wed, Mar 9, 2011.
Its a shame they can't prove the PeiWei knew they were illegals,then they could have fined them or shut them down,but then again if the shut them down,they wouldn't be able to hire more illegals later on.As we gingos won;t do those kinda a jobs,for the money they pay.