After working for Pizza Hut for more than 10 years, an Indiana man is claiming he was fired because he refused to open the restaurant on Thanksgiving.
According to WSBT, Tony Rohr, who worked at a Pizza Hut chain in Elkhart, Indiana, was giving a mandatory order to remain open for the upcoming holiday. The former general manager said he was not willing to give up a chance to celebrate the holiday with his family.
Rohr, who started at Pizza Hut as a cook and worked his way up to general manager, also gave his staff the day off. Rohr said his store was closed on Thanksgiving last year.
"Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only two days that they're closed in the whole year and they're the only two days that those people are guaranteed to have off and spend it with their families," Rohr said.
However, this year, Rohr said management was not happy with his decision and told him he should write a letter of resignation. Instead Rohr wrote a letter stating that he would not be quitting.
"I am not quitting. I do not resign," he wrote. "However, I accept that the refusal to comply with this greedy, immoral request means the end of my tenure with this company.... I hope you realize that it is the people at the bottom of the totem pole that make your life possible."
Rohr said it was all worth getting the chance to spend Thanksgiving with his girlfriend and his parents in South Bend.
A Pizza Hut representative told WSBT Rohr wasn't fired, but quit. The representative said the decision on whether the restaurant remains open or close on Thanksgiving is made by the company directors.
Pizza Hut's choice to remain open on Thanksgiving is in line with several other national and local stores and restaurants.
