Worker fired after refusing to serve customers who were Trump supporters

[davidn3600]

A Cook Out worker was fired after an interaction with Donald Trump supporters that had Trump fans calling for a boycott of the legendary fast-food chain.

Last week, Shannon Riggs and her cousins were turned away from a Cook Out in Colonial Heights, Virginia, when they showed up in Donald Trump shirts and hats.

According to WTVR, an employee yelled, "Hell no! I'm not serving them" after spotting the family in their Trump apparel.

The group placed their order but didn't receive their food, so they eventually canceled their order and had their money refunded.

"Once you witness discrimination firsthand, it's a totally different experience," Lauren Wolfrey, one family member, told WTVR. "I was in a state of shock."

The incident prompted outrage on social media, with people calling for a boycott of the fast-food chain.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/worker-cult-southern-fast-food-154210600.html

In a statement, the company said the employee that refused service and was rude has been terminated citing a violation of company policy.

This kind of thing is happening a lot lately...
A month ago a tow truck driver in North Carolina refused to tow a woman's car because she was a Bernie Sanders supporter. And in Colorado, a landlord even made a point in the advertisement for an apartment that he wouldnt rent to a Trump supporter.

Politics is getting divisive and nasty in this country.

[uponit7771]

1. This should be a work place issue, tRump is an open racist... how in the world would anyone feel...

... if they were the ones he was openly racist towards?

[davidn3600]

15. The problem though is that when you are on the clock, you represent that company

If you have a job that involves working regularly with the public, that means you WILL run into Republicans, Democrats, Muslims, Christians, Jews, racists, sexists, people with handicaps, old people, young people, gay people, transgenders, etc, etc... If you can't find a way to put your personal opinions aside and remain professional for that business transaction, you are not going to have that job for very long.

It will be difficult to get through life and not deal with people who you disagree with. Sometimes these people may be in your own family. I have people I am related to who support Trump. They think I'm some sort of Bolshevik for supporting Bernie. How do we get through Thanksgiving dinner? We just don't talk about politics. That's all.

[scscholar]

27. Except they attacked racism

Attacking racism is never wrong. Never wrong. This business owner represents the GOPpers!

[yeoman6987]

16. You still do your job you were hired to do.

[840high]

29. Absolutely.

[treestar]

2. this is the kind of thing that could have always happened

but only makes the news because of the internet. And Trump acts in such an immature way that he's the likely cause - he is too unprofessional and would probably praise any of his own supporters that did the same sort of thing.

[SheilaT]

3. "Once you witness discrimination firsthand, it's a totally different experience,"

Unfortunately, they still won't think through what their support of Trump actually means.

I'm glad the employee refused to serve them. The company was probably right to fire him. He won't have any trouble finding a new job.

[0rganism]

36. yeah, amazing line right there

[JoePhilly]

4. The worker should claim their Religion won't let them serve racists.

[Cooley Hurd]

6. Absolutely!

[freebrew]

10. DUzy!...nt

[uponit7771]

20. +1

[Cooley Hurd]

5. I hope the server starts a go-fund-me campaign.

The Trump candidacy is *beyond absurd* and I, too, would probably not be able to serve such supporters of that absurdity.

[lunatica]

7. They're crestfallen that anyone would feel that way

After all, they're pretty white blondes who feel it's OK to buy into Trump's brand of hatred and racism but just can't understand why anyone would treat them that way.

It smacks of Master Race thinking to me.

[justhanginon]

9. As trump supporters, they may be pretty on the outside, not so sure about the inside.

[Hoppy]

12. They are special snowflakes and you and I ain't.

[Hoyt]

8. Here's to the employee.

[louis-t]

11. Now, maybe they'll get it....

but I doubt it.

[Kingofalldems]

13. I bet the cave is outraged by this.

Don't you think so?

[niyad]

14. geez, sucks when the shoe is on the other foot, eh, ladies?

they were not refused service, their order was taken, although apparently never arrived, and then whined and complained and got their money back.

I would love to see the video of this and exactly how they behaved.

[Shrike47]

17. Their food never arrived, so i'd say they weren't served.

[niyad]

18. you are correct, the food never arrived.

[brett_jv]

39. The 'food actually arriving' being a rather critical component of the concept of 'service'

when one is patronizing a 'food service establishment' ... I think is the point being made.

Ergo, no food = no service, in this particular context.

[tritsofme]

19. I have no problem with this, political minorities like Trumpists aren't a protected class

The guy had to know this sort of stunt would cost him his job, but must have made the calculation it was worth it.

If you're going to go out of a minimum wage job in a blaze of glory, might as well have a little fun.

[Agnosticsherbet]

21. It Pisses me of when gays will not be served

Or when someone refuses to serve a Sanders suporter or blacks or Muslims.

So I oppose a policy that Nazi's will not be served.

[a kennedy]

22. "Once you witness discrimination firsthand, it's a totally different experience," Lauren Wolfrey

funny how that works......

[linuxman]

23. Good.

When you accept a job dealing with the general publuc, you agree to serve the general public.

If you want to pick and choose, you'll have to flip enough burgers to open your own restaurant.

[1939]

24. Even then you can't pick and choose

Remember Lester Maddox?

Remember the bakery owners?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

25. You can pick or choose when it come to non-protected classes

Like political beliefs.

[Rex]

26. Maybe their faith wouldn't allow them to sell products to stupid nincompoops.

I must hear more. Just sell them the shit and move on imo, now they will probably feel self-righteous about their love of Trump and not shame as is normal for the typical self-loathing GOPers.

[Jake Stern]

28. As a 20+ year veteran of customer service

I believe this workers termination was proper.

I have worked with customers emblazoned with swastika tats, homeless people that reeked of urine and people in their Sunday best. Each of them was treated with the same level of customer service I would expect. No less.

If one can't check their political views at the door then they don't need to be working with the public. Doesn't matter if they bake cakes, flip burgers or sell lotto tickets. I despise Trump but would not hire someone who has clearly demonstrated they cannot conduct themselves in a customer service situation

[840high]

30. ...!100++++

[Warpy]

32. Of course it was. A customer is a customer no matter how stupid s/he is.

I'd still like to slap those smug expressions off those two in that picture.

I won't, of course, but a vivid fantasy life keeps me sane during elections.

[Downtown Hound]

31. Keep work and politics separate

That applies to both sides.

[Sam_Fields]

33. These women support racism, sexism and bigotry. No business should serve them.

This is no different then a dressed KKK or NAZI member coming into your business.

[Jake Stern]

35. And as a Jew I would (and have) serve a Neo-Nazi

UNLESS they're making an absolute ruckus in the store.

Why?

Because THAT'S MY JOB.

A person who is offended by a Klanner can ask someone else assist the customer. I've stepped in like that.

Customer service is one of those jobs where you'll deal with all kinds of folks, including some that will offend you. Don't like facing people of every stripe and persuasion? Then move to the back of the house, ie, transfer to grill or prep where the only people you'll deal with are you co-workers.

[romanic]

34. Keep the politics at home.

Do your job and talk shit about them off the clock I say.

[bluestateguy]

37. Does a waiter have to serve two guys wearing Klan robes and sheets?

Because that's the same thing as two people wearing Trump regalia.

And the KKK supports Trump.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

40. He has to serve them

if the owner says he has to serve them. Individual employees don't get to decide whom they will or won't serve.

The owner could certainly refuse to serve two guys wearing Klan robes and sheets, but an employee can't do that on his or her behalf.

[bigwillq]

38. Serve the people--ALL people, even Trump fans--- Or find a new job.

Glad this person was terminated.