7-Eleven: The Price of Convenience

Four Corners revelations of dodgy bookkeeping, blackmail and the mass underpayment of its workforce.

Gold Walkley Award-winning reporter Adele Ferguson returns to Four Corners with an investigation into the 7-Eleven business empire with revelations of dodgy bookkeeping, blackmail and the mass underpayment of its workforce.

7-Eleven is the business built for our convenience: selling the staples of life like milk, bread and phone cards, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With more than 600 stores around Australia they serve around six customers every second and generate more than $3 billion in sales.

Thousands of people around the country are employed in 7-Eleven stores, run by franchisees.

But as this joint Four Corners/Fairfax investigation reveals, it’s a business model that relies on the exploitation of its workforce.

“They can’t run 7-Eleven as profitably and successfully as they have without letting this happen. The reality is it’s built on something not much different from slavery. ” 7-Eleven insider

Based on painstaking research and insider accounts, the investigation has been months in the making. The findings will be released in a series of articles, online stories and social media content through Fairfax Media and ABC platforms culminating in the Four Corners broadcast on Monday night which will detail the full revelations.

7-Eleven: The Price of Convenience, reported by Adele Ferguson and presented by Kerry O’Brien, goes to air on Monday 31st of August at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 1st of September at 10.00am and Wednesday 2nd at midnight. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday at 8.00pm, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.

Sydney Morning Herald

https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2015/7-eleven-revealed/

https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-worked-like-slaves-and-no-one-cared-7eleven-worker-20171222-h092ff.html

ABC 4 CORNERS

https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/7-eleven-promo/6729716