How a college graduation gift can cost you your job [View All]

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http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Honda-Driving-Employee-Fired-by-Dodge-.html?corder=reverse&pg=1

Honda-Driving Woman Told to Get Out of Dodge

Former employee claims impeccable work record

By DICK JOHNSON and BJ LUTZ

Updated 10:20 AM CDT, Mon, May 18, 2009

TINLEY PARK, Ill. -- When Heather Sallay proudly drove her family's college graduation gift to her part-time job as a cashier, her boss at Bettenhausen Dodge only had two words for her: you're fired.

The 22-year-old had worked at the dealership for three and a half years and had recently received a glowing recommendation letter from the office manager, but was let go when she pulled up in her new Honda Civic.

"I just wanted to confirm, 'Did you, in fact, fire Heather because she's driving a Honda?'" Todd Sallay recalled. "And he said, 'Yes I did."

Todd Sallay owns a Chrysler product and showed off 27 receipts he'd collected over the years for almost $5,000 worth of service at Bettenhausen. The only thing his daughter can imagine is that her termination was tied to tension at Bettenhausen Dodge this week as they awaited word about which dealerships would survive. Bettenhausen Dodge did.