There was a burger on the menu that was dedicated to the owners daughter’s dead boyfriend who died crashing into a tree while drunk. It got a peperoncini stabbed on the top bun.
A coworker forgot the peperoncini on the burger which sparked him to ask about why it was on the burger. It led to a rabbit hole of finding out he was the owners daughter’s dead boyfriend and my coworker asked why we were celebrating a guy who died like that not knowing who he was to the owner and her daughter.
It’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever been fired since I was only tangentially involved.
In the US? You can get fired because the manager doesn’t like the color of your shirt, or the perfume you’re wearing today. As long as they’re not being discriminatory against a federally protected class, (sex, race, religion, old age, disability, and national origin) it’s legal. Welcome to something called “at-will” employment. Meaning the employer or employee can choose to terminate their employment contract at will. They aren’t required to wait out the end of an employment contract, because the contract can be terminated by either party at will.
And even if they did fire you for being a member of one of those protected classes, (for instance, if they fired you for being a woman, or for being black), you’d need to prove it. And unless they were stupid enough to put that shit in writing, you’ll need to do a lot of investigative work to prove a pattern of discrimination.
Exactly in right work state you have zero protection. Especially for all that. Because besides having a right to fire you, THEY DON’T HAVE TO LIST A REASON! So yes you can be fired even for protected class things. New manager comes in fires you due to skin color but you can’t prove it. My personal experience got fired once for my religious views or lack of. Of course I was told by temp agency that is was due to not being "team player "
This was just day after I told the bosses brother that didn’t believe in Jesus after he kept pushing religious shit on me all shift.
Sweet jesus I have no idea how americans haven’t gotten all french about it until they’re given the same rights that most countries have :(
Genuinely sorry that you have to deal with that level of buuuuullllshit. Fingers crossed there’s some hope for you getting rights and or a government that isn’t actively trying to kill you
Because they’ve mostly been individually convinced if they just work hard enough they too will be one of the rich few, and that everyone but them personally deserves nothing but contempt and hate for not working hard enough.
This ensures each individual vociferously defends the rich, as they too will soon be one of them, which flat out kills any collective action to better everyone’s position.
I got fired for being next to the coworker asking the questions. All I did was bring up that burger dude died in a car crash and was presumed to be drunk.
Coworker asked why we celebrated him and next thing I know we’re both jobless.
Dude. If you still want the job, you really had no obvious part in the disrespect, and the owner wasn’t part of the immediate rage firing, give it a day, let it cool off, then go see the owner directly.
Just be straightforward and honest, speaking as his equal (because you are): “I meant no disrespect, I really was just there and not a participant, I understand offense was given, but that was not my doing or intent. I liked this job, I enjoyed doing it, I thought I was doing well at it, and I can’t believe it’s gone just because I happened to be in the same room when this happened. Is there any way this outcome can be reconsidered, or is it set in stone?” Professional, straightforward, calm.
If the owner wasn’t a part of the direct confrontation you might be able to change his mind. I’m saying this because if I were your manager, the way you wrote your text would make me at least question the decision, and I’m hard to convince. People do shit in indignant rage they regret later, restaurant kitchens are wild places anyway, and I don’t know this guy and I don’t know you, but if you want that specific job back then it’s worth a shot. Good workers are worth keeping.
But you may not want it back. If not then just ignore this, chill for a day or two, and start looking for the next thing. Whatever you decide I hope it all works out for you.
Tried to do this earlier today. Owner refused to see me so I simply had to plead my case to the store managers. They all unanimously agreed (though some of them seemed hesitant) to let me go.
At this point all I can do is take it in stride. It sucks to suck but life sucks sometimes.
Yeah, that does suck. At least you tried, and there will be no regrets: there’s literally nothing more you could have done. From where I sit it’s their loss: good workers don’t grow on trees, and they’re idiots to let a known good employee walk out the door in favor of an unknown. At least the hesitant ones, if needed, could be approached for a reference should you ever need it.
But in the meantime, you have a great attitude, the kind that sets you up to make the most of opportunities that come your way, and I am certain you’ll do well. That kind of thing comes through when you’re looking for jobs, and it’s a plus when someone can look at a shitty situation in prior employment and hold it in realistic proportion, however unfair it was. And this was indeed unfair. I genuinely wish you every success, and soon.
Man wtaf. Why would you even want to commemorate that and then fire people for talking about it. “Enjoy your burger, it’s a memento for the most traumatic day of my daughter’s life. Why no she doesn’t ever eat here, why do you ask?”
That really sucks, but I misread that as “pepperoni stabbed into the top bun”, and I can only picture a slice of the cold meat slapped onto the top of a burger with a skewer holding it.
Like, does the wooden skewer represent the tree he hit and the slice of pepperoni represents the meat pancake his drunk ass turned in to? That’s pretty fucked up.
Edited: Fixed my misunderstanding, but a pickled pepper doesn’t make it less fucked up, because he was pickled?
so you’ll go to a labour tribunal to discuss whether you were legally fired? and reach a settlement where you were clearly fired for no reason which the company is not allowed to do?
My dude I’m at a really low point right now and the snark is not appreciated. I didn’t vote for this shit I was just born into it. I’m dealing with it the best I can. 3 people lost their livelihood because of this.
That’s still a thing in America, different names but conceptually the same. Even an at-will employment state doesn’t allow illegal firing which this sounds like.
OP should call around to see if a lawyer will represent pro bono for sure.
At-will only provides protections for specific types of discrimination. They can’t fire you for being part of a federally protected class. For instance, they can’t fire you for being a woman, or for being black, because sex and race are federally protected classes. But “making fun of a dude who drunkenly wrapped himself around a tree” isn’t a protected class, so the firing would be legal in an at-will state.
However, OP can (and should) file for unemployment ASAP. The former employer may try to contest it to get it denied, but that’s just to avoid paying extra on their insurance. If OP appeals the denial, they can submit a reason why they were fired. And as long as it wasn’t for cause (which basically requires something illegal like stealing from the company) then their appeal will be approved and they’ll get unemployment.
But unemployment only begins from the date that you apply. So OP should apply ASAP, so the start date is today. OP should also encourage those other fired employees to do the same. Because fuck that employer, they deserve higher insurance rates and we pay into insurance for a reason. Fucking use it.
Retaliation only applies if the employee was engaging in protected activities, like filing a Department of Labor complaint, requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability, refusing to discriminate against another employee, or initiating a lawsuit against your employer. And, just like the federally protected classes that would make the firing illegal, “making fun of a dude who drunkenly wrapped himself around a tree” isn’t a protected activity. So no, it’s not retaliation.
This thread just makes me so concerned about people’s knowledge of their lack of protection from businesses. It’s wild that people think they can’t be fired for a whim in the states. Even protected classes and things like that are super difficult to prove in court.
There was a burger on the menu that was dedicated to the owners daughter’s dead boyfriend who died crashing into a tree while drunk. It got a peperoncini stabbed on the top bun.
A coworker forgot the peperoncini on the burger which sparked him to ask about why it was on the burger. It led to a rabbit hole of finding out he was the owners daughter’s dead boyfriend and my coworker asked why we were celebrating a guy who died like that not knowing who he was to the owner and her daughter.
It’s the dumbest reason I’ve ever been fired since I was only tangentially involved.
That seems like an open shut wrongful dismissal case, but I really don’t know what the labour laws are in your end of the world
In the US? You can get fired because the manager doesn’t like the color of your shirt, or the perfume you’re wearing today. As long as they’re not being discriminatory against a federally protected class, (sex, race, religion, old age, disability, and national origin) it’s legal. Welcome to something called “at-will” employment. Meaning the employer or employee can choose to terminate their employment contract at will. They aren’t required to wait out the end of an employment contract, because the contract can be terminated by either party at will.
And even if they did fire you for being a member of one of those protected classes, (for instance, if they fired you for being a woman, or for being black), you’d need to prove it. And unless they were stupid enough to put that shit in writing, you’ll need to do a lot of investigative work to prove a pattern of discrimination.
Exactly in right work state you have zero protection. Especially for all that. Because besides having a right to fire you, THEY DON’T HAVE TO LIST A REASON! So yes you can be fired even for protected class things. New manager comes in fires you due to skin color but you can’t prove it. My personal experience got fired once for my religious views or lack of. Of course I was told by temp agency that is was due to not being "team player "
This was just day after I told the bosses brother that didn’t believe in Jesus after he kept pushing religious shit on me all shift.
Sweet jesus I have no idea how americans haven’t gotten all french about it until they’re given the same rights that most countries have :(
Genuinely sorry that you have to deal with that level of buuuuullllshit. Fingers crossed there’s some hope for you getting rights and or a government that isn’t actively trying to kill you
Because they’ve mostly been individually convinced if they just work hard enough they too will be one of the rich few, and that everyone but them personally deserves nothing but contempt and hate for not working hard enough.
This ensures each individual vociferously defends the rich, as they too will soon be one of them, which flat out kills any collective action to better everyone’s position.
I’m either misreading this or confused. You asked the coworker or you were the one explaining it to the coworker? And got fired for explaining it?
I got fired for being next to the coworker asking the questions. All I did was bring up that burger dude died in a car crash and was presumed to be drunk.
Coworker asked why we celebrated him and next thing I know we’re both jobless.
Dude. If you still want the job, you really had no obvious part in the disrespect, and the owner wasn’t part of the immediate rage firing, give it a day, let it cool off, then go see the owner directly.
Just be straightforward and honest, speaking as his equal (because you are): “I meant no disrespect, I really was just there and not a participant, I understand offense was given, but that was not my doing or intent. I liked this job, I enjoyed doing it, I thought I was doing well at it, and I can’t believe it’s gone just because I happened to be in the same room when this happened. Is there any way this outcome can be reconsidered, or is it set in stone?” Professional, straightforward, calm.
If the owner wasn’t a part of the direct confrontation you might be able to change his mind. I’m saying this because if I were your manager, the way you wrote your text would make me at least question the decision, and I’m hard to convince. People do shit in indignant rage they regret later, restaurant kitchens are wild places anyway, and I don’t know this guy and I don’t know you, but if you want that specific job back then it’s worth a shot. Good workers are worth keeping.
But you may not want it back. If not then just ignore this, chill for a day or two, and start looking for the next thing. Whatever you decide I hope it all works out for you.
Tried to do this earlier today. Owner refused to see me so I simply had to plead my case to the store managers. They all unanimously agreed (though some of them seemed hesitant) to let me go.
At this point all I can do is take it in stride. It sucks to suck but life sucks sometimes.
Yeah, that does suck. At least you tried, and there will be no regrets: there’s literally nothing more you could have done. From where I sit it’s their loss: good workers don’t grow on trees, and they’re idiots to let a known good employee walk out the door in favor of an unknown. At least the hesitant ones, if needed, could be approached for a reference should you ever need it.
But in the meantime, you have a great attitude, the kind that sets you up to make the most of opportunities that come your way, and I am certain you’ll do well. That kind of thing comes through when you’re looking for jobs, and it’s a plus when someone can look at a shitty situation in prior employment and hold it in realistic proportion, however unfair it was. And this was indeed unfair. I genuinely wish you every success, and soon.
Man wtaf. Why would you even want to commemorate that and then fire people for talking about it. “Enjoy your burger, it’s a memento for the most traumatic day of my daughter’s life. Why no she doesn’t ever eat here, why do you ask?”
Sounds like might be worth talking to a lawyer on that one for wrongful termination.
Unfortunately the state I live in is an at-will state and I didn’t work there long enough to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
That really sucks, but I misread that as “pepperoni stabbed into the top bun”, and I can only picture a slice of the cold meat slapped onto the top of a burger with a skewer holding it.
Like, does the wooden skewer represent the tree he hit and the slice of pepperoni represents the meat pancake his drunk ass turned in to? That’s pretty fucked up.
Edited: Fixed my misunderstanding, but a pickled pepper doesn’t make it less fucked up, because he was pickled?
Peperoncini, not pepperoni.
Pepperoncini, not pepperoni. It’s a pickled pepper, they usually come in glass jars
presuming you’re american.
no one in the civilised world is fired for such nonsense
I am indeed American and can tell you most people do not get fired for things like this on a regular basis.
It happened mere hours ago and I’m still wrapping my head around it.
so you’ll go to a labour tribunal to discuss whether you were legally fired? and reach a settlement where you were clearly fired for no reason which the company is not allowed to do?
oh. right. lol.
My dude I’m at a really low point right now and the snark is not appreciated. I didn’t vote for this shit I was just born into it. I’m dealing with it the best I can. 3 people lost their livelihood because of this.
That’s still a thing in America, different names but conceptually the same. Even an at-will employment state doesn’t allow illegal firing which this sounds like.
OP should call around to see if a lawyer will represent pro bono for sure.
At-will only provides protections for specific types of discrimination. They can’t fire you for being part of a federally protected class. For instance, they can’t fire you for being a woman, or for being black, because sex and race are federally protected classes. But “making fun of a dude who drunkenly wrapped himself around a tree” isn’t a protected class, so the firing would be legal in an at-will state.
However, OP can (and should) file for unemployment ASAP. The former employer may try to contest it to get it denied, but that’s just to avoid paying extra on their insurance. If OP appeals the denial, they can submit a reason why they were fired. And as long as it wasn’t for cause (which basically requires something illegal like stealing from the company) then their appeal will be approved and they’ll get unemployment.
But unemployment only begins from the date that you apply. So OP should apply ASAP, so the start date is today. OP should also encourage those other fired employees to do the same. Because fuck that employer, they deserve higher insurance rates and we pay into insurance for a reason. Fucking use it.
No, OP definitely described retaliation which is illegal.
You’re right in the rest though.
Retaliation only applies if the employee was engaging in protected activities, like filing a Department of Labor complaint, requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability, refusing to discriminate against another employee, or initiating a lawsuit against your employer. And, just like the federally protected classes that would make the firing illegal, “making fun of a dude who drunkenly wrapped himself around a tree” isn’t a protected activity. So no, it’s not retaliation.
This thread just makes me so concerned about people’s knowledge of their lack of protection from businesses. It’s wild that people think they can’t be fired for a whim in the states. Even protected classes and things like that are super difficult to prove in court.
Oh fuck off
Troll much?
There’s being right, and being an absolute arsehole. Right now you’re both. Sometimes you need to not say a thing, even if it is correct.