Man says he was fired for refusing to work Thanksgiving (Pizza Hut)

WSBT Channel 42 - Indiana ^ | 9:49am 11/27/2013 | N. Zimmerman

[MeganC]

ELKHART - Many stores and restaurants will be open this year on Thanksgiving Day, and one local man says he lost his job because of it. Tony Rohr worked at Pizza Hut for more than ten years, but says he was fired recently because he refused to open on Thanksgiving. He says he doesn't think people should have to work on a holiday like Thanksgiving. He started at Pizza Hut as a cook and worked his way up to being a general manager of the Jackson Boulevard Pizza Hut in Elkhart.

He was told opening on Thanksgiving this year was mandatory, so at a meeting with his superiors he decided to take a stand.

"I said, 'Why can't we be the company that stands up and says we care about our employees and they can have the day off?'"

Tony says it wasn't about him. It was about his employees. He told his bosses that he would not open the restaurant he managed on Thanksgiving.

[MeganC]

I can't believe they're forcing people to work on Thanksgiving making so-so pizza instead of spending time with their families. Not to sound like a lefty, but will all of the executives for Franchise Management Investors US be working the holiday or will they be enjoying the holiday with THEIR families? Of course they'll be at home.

Pizza Hut is now in my "No Buy Zone" after this.

[1rudeboy]

Look on the bright side: with the experience he has, he can open his own pizza joint and keep it closed on Thanksgiving.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Well come on man, they gotta stay open! Gotta pay all them taxes to support illegals and the welfare breeding cows not to mention the Obamacare scam.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Those franchise holders will come to regret it when their PO-ed employees fall prey to the siren song of Leftism and join a union, or elect somebody like Elizabeth Warren as President.

Some of our problems with leftism are the result of us p*ssing in our own pool IMO.

[defconw]

I worked at Pizza Hut and we were open on Thanksgiving. You had your choice of shift and they were short and we did not open until 3PM.

[snowstorm12]

why would they want a pizza hut to be open on thanksgiving? I thought places were staying open for the shoppers.

[God luvs America]

better yet- who buys pizza hut pizza on Thanksgiving??? (nevermind the other 364 days of the year)...

[oh8eleven]

I can't believe they're forcing people to work on Thanksgiving
Various retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc., have been open on holidays for at least the last 30 years.
If you work in the business, you know going in that it comes with the territory.
For this (former) manager, he'll now have Thanksgiving off, Christmas off, New Year's off ... exactly what he wanted.

[defconw]

As one who has been there. Not everyone can make it home for Thanksgiving or has any place else to go. Some years I had a place to go, others not.

Now I never ordered a pizza for Thanksgiving, but some people do. It's a waste of money to have people working if there is no demand.

[1rudeboy]

I understand your point, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t matter one whit. Anyone likely to go Leftist will do so, regardless. They’ll just find another “excuse.”

[kjam22]

You mean you’ve never had pizza topped with turkey and dressing? Or their delicious cranberry pizza? Or the all time favorite... green bean casaroll pizza... Oh man... :)

[MeganC]

I don’t work at Pizza Hut and I’ll be home tomorrow enjoying the holiday with my family.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand that people are needed to work on the holiday at important jobs like the military, police, hospitals, and etc.

But Pizza Hut?

And, like I said, you know for damn sure that the executives of that company will all be home enjoying their holiday while the peons have to work.

[MeganC]

Some of our problems with leftism are the result of us p*ssing in our own pool IMO.

In this case you are exactly right.

[pluvmantelo]

Surely his contract is specific on work time requirements. If there is a provision that work on Thanksgiving is required, he has no beef. If not, then use labor law to redress his grievance. But if he wants to take the extra dough as a manager, he takes the duties as well.
Whether it is wise for the company to remain open on Thanksgiving is a separate matter.

[real saxophonist]

That’s weird. At Domino’s, many years ago, I opened on Thanksgiving. I had one delivery. The girl who closed had one delivery. I’m surprised any pizza places are open on Thanksgiving anymore.

[Fido969]

When I worked in restarunts, you worked on the holidays - because the stores made money on those days. And yes, people will eat out on Thanksgiving, even pizza.

[Focault's Pendulum]

You had your choice of shift and they were short and we did not open until 3PM.

Were they able to see over the counter or did they suddenly sprout after 3?

[real saxophonist]

Oh, yeah. I always requested weekends and holidays. Not for the time-and-a-half, but to free up someone who had family obligations.

[chae]

I worked in a casino in Missouri. We were open all the time, and nothing says “happy birthday Jesus” like doubling down on a soft 16.

[GreaterSwiss]

I think the guy should be fired.

Thanksgiving day involves a lot of football which caters to Pizzas.. People can have thanksgiving lunch during day and order pizza/wings at night.

He was General Manager. He could of asked his assistant GM to fill in for him. Instead he said the store was closed, which is the owner’s decision.