Coke driver fired for drinking Pepsi

[stncttr908]

::sniff:: is that a lawsuit I smell? :)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030613/ts_alt_afp/us_offbeat_coke_030613221908

Seriously folks, how far is too far?

[vampireuk]

I hope the guy sues them for all they are worth. That is pretty damn pathetic firing someone just for drinking a soft drink.

[silence]

agreed with vamp...send mr.fliblble to *cough* reason *cough* with them......

[ibGoodEnuf]

Actually, these guys are aware of the policy. Both companies have it. If you agree to work for them, you agree to abide by their rules. Man, everyone is so ready for litigation. You all should move to Nevada where it is a right to work state. You can be fired at anytime for whatever reason your employer fancies. In fact, no reason is needed. Keeps the employees on their toes though:D .

[stncttr908]

I'm pretty sure there's this little thing called a "union" that might disagree with you.

[ibGoodEnuf]

Yes, I am aware of those little communist groups you refer to as unions. The fact remains that much like a dress code, you agree to abide by an employers rules when you are hired. Since those rules exist and the employee is aware of them, should he violate them there is nothing that his comrade, I mean steward, can do for him except wish him luck in winning his unemployment claim.

[UDawg]

I think it is a completely stupid rule but it is the companies rule. If you don't like it then don't work for them. BTW how dumb do you have to be to drink Pepsi while driving Coca Cola truck? What a dope.

[vampireuk]

Originally posted by ibGoodEnuf
Yes, I am aware of those little communist groups you refer to as unions. The fact remains that much like a dress code, you agree to abide by an employers rules when you are hired. Since those rules exist and the employee is aware of them, should he violate them there is nothing that his comrade, I mean steward, can do for him except wish him luck in winning his unemployment claim.

Little communist groups...oh god I lost IQ points reading that. Thanks now I'm only a couple of hundred away from your level:eek:

[sytaylor]

Originally posted by ibGoodEnuf
Yes, I am aware of those little communist groups you refer to as unions. The fact remains that much like a dress code, you agree to abide by an employers rules when you are hired. Since those rules exist and the employee is aware of them, should he violate them there is nothing that his comrade, I mean steward, can do for him except wish him luck in winning his unemployment claim.

although i disagree with the way you refer to unions, i share your distaste for them..

they have a use, but its over rated, and an excuse to try and gain political power where it doesnt belong (/me points to FBU cheif)..

for me unions should be no more than legal assistance groups, but unfortatley they tend to be far more, thats when they go too far.

[2fast4u]

company policy here or there ... this is bs. should wal-mart also fire employees who are seen buying stuff at k-mart or what?

[stncttr908]

I just don't quite see the importance of this so called "rule" to be honest. Really now, if someone saw a guy in a Coke uniform drinking a Pepsi, they may have a good laugh, but how influential would it be to their preference for either Coke or Pepsi?

[PsychoSy]

Originally posted by ibGoodEnuf
Actually, these guys are aware of the policy. Both companies have it. If you agree to work for them, you agree to abide by their rules.

What if those rules undermine a individual's Constitutional rights?!? Or what if the union's contract with the employer states that all terminations must have just cause, like doing drugs or sleeping on the job? Stuff like that should be grounds for termination but the purchase and consumption of a competitors product isn't just cause.

WTF, Coke & Pepsi employees cease to have the freedom of having a favorite or preferred beverage?!? This wouldn't happen if the dude was drinking coffee or water! Something simular almost happened to me when I worked at Pizza Hut. Our particular store was owned by Atlantic Development (they also owned the Taco Bell next door) and their contract was with Coke. I drank Pepsi and often brought my own Pepsi into work. One time, the regional directors where there for an audit. Near the end of my shift, the store manager said, "You know, we're not supposed to have contraband in the store..."

"Contraband?"

"Yeah, competitors products...it's grounds for termination."

I turned and looked right at Bob (our DM) and said, "That's a pity because nowhere on the application I signed or in the employee handbook does it expressly state that I agreed to renounce my individual freedoms in favor of engaging into corporate ass-kissing. The only things I agree to is to do my job without complaint and I've been doing that."

"I detect some sense of an attitude," Bob said.

"No attitude, sir. Just plain fact. I come in, do rotations, make pizzas for the lunch rush, and perform afternoon prep so the night shift isn't running around with heads cut off. And the only bad thing I do is prefer Pepsi over Coke? If you're going to fire me for such BS, go right ahead..."

"OK, today was your last day..." he said and followed the manager in the office. She told me to wait in the dining room to signed some final paperwork. Went out in the dining room and sat by the waitresses. "Welp, it's been nice working with you ladies..."

"You just quit?!?"

"Nope, I was just fired about 12 seconds ago by Bob."

"What for...?"

"Drinking Pepsi in the store..."

"That's garbage...after the work you did this morning..."

"Yep - today was my last day of turning tens of thousands of dollars in fines and food cost into profit, my last day of saving Bob his sorry ass. Yep, why don't you ladies go and introduce yourself to those folks from corporate. They'll be your morning crew tomorrow..."

"OMG, that's right! Once Mike, Jimbo, and Jay find out you're fired, they won't show..." one waitress said.

Store manager approaches. She hands me my termination slip for me to sign. I sign it and she said, "You know, if you apologize, Bob'll probably get your job back." Rising from the booth, I said to her, "Once those suits over there find out why they'll have to open the store with you in the morning, Bob's ass will be in a sling and they'll be apologizing to me. See ya later..."

That's exactly what happened, too. The three guys refused to work without me, and those suits had to open the store - probably the first time they actually did any physical labor in years. I came in as a customer for lunch and got waited on by the regional director. He recognized me and asked why wasn't working. I told him what the deal was. I was rehired back on the spot, Bob was written up, and that "contraband" rule was "ignored" from then on out.

[UDawg]

DUDE U DA' MAN!!! and I mean that. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


PEPSI=CONTRABAND

priceless!

[intercede007]

I would have fired his ass.

[sbp]

The best a union can do is fight on your behalf against the company. Now on the other hand...seen too many examples of cronyism and lazy slackers, not only being tolerated but protected. Forget that.

Also we've seen examples of union thugs beating people.


Originally posted by PsychoSy
everything Oh yeah like being forced to join a unions doesn't undermine a individual's Constitutional rights. :bs:

How about money taken out of the worker paychecks to support candidates they don't want to. Oh no can't have paycheck protection. :bleh:

Frigging fatcat union bosses living it up-just another bunch of greedy, power hungry hands taking money from the paycheck.

[stncttr908]

I can sort of agree with you, since my place of employment takes $5.69 a week for union dues, which I'll never see. However, if I weren't going off to college, I would see it in the form of dental and presciption drug coverage, even as a part-time employee.

[Riptide]

Originally posted by 2fast4u
company policy here or there ... this is bs. should wal-mart also fire employees who are seen buying stuff at k-mart or what?
This is starting to get into a gray area don't you think?

Look at it this way... If you worked for Dell computer what kind of image does that present if you insisted on using a Packard Bell on your desk instead of a Dell? Not the kind of image the company wants to get across. Similarly, my company buys Dell PCs for their workstations. How would it make me look if I started to tell customers that I thought Compaqs were way better and that these Dells sucked?

I'm not saying I think this rule is nitpicky or not, just trying to play devil's advocate...

[ibGoodEnuf]

Originally posted by vampireuk
Little communist groups...oh god I lost IQ points reading that. Thanks now I'm only a couple of hundred away from your level:eek:

Vamp,

As a moederator, do you really believe that personal attacks of this nature are beneficial to the board? I mean, you banned me once for personal attacks against another member of this board. I have ceased those attacks and from making any post that could be possibly construed as a personal attack. I politely request that you desist from this behavior.

[vampireuk]

Its called ribbing IB, you do it plenty of times in political discussions as does everybody else;)

[The Baron]

Originally posted by Riptide
This is starting to get into a gray area don't you think?

Look at it this way... If you worked for Dell computer what kind of image does that present if you insisted on using a Packard Bell on your desk instead of a Dell? Not the kind of image the company wants to get across. Similarly, my company buys Dell PCs for their workstations. How would it make me look if I started to tell customers that I thought Compaqs were way better and that these Dells sucked?

I'm not saying I think this rule is nitpicky or not, just trying to play devil's advocate...
No--if he was eating Domino's and he had a Domino's box in plain sight, that would be like using a Packard Bell at Dell. He's not using the competitor's products--he's using the products of a competitor to someone he has an agreement with.

This would be like using a Dell computer while working at Dell, but taking in a Logitech mouse to replace the standard Microsoft one.

[UDawg]

I don't see this whole thing as a big deal. If they want to fire them, then fire him. It's their company. If they want to treat their employees like equiptment then don't work for them.

[ibGoodEnuf]

Cool enough then, Vamp. I can accept ribbing, I guess I am just a bit sensitive right now.

[2fast4u]

Originally posted by UDawg71
I don't see this whole thing as a big deal. If they want to fire them, then fire him. It's their company. If they want to treat their employees like equiptment then don't work for them.

it isnt cokes sole descision how they treat their employees (bad if it would be)... there are laws covering this and it wouldnt suprise me if sometime well see a lawsuit about this kinda stuff.

if you dont like it leaving is easy, you gotta fight the sh|t you dont like :D

[UDawg]

Originally posted by 2fast4u
it isnt cokes sole descision how they treat their employees (bad if it would be)... there are laws covering this and it wouldnt suprise me if sometime well see a lawsuit about this kinda stuff.

if you dont like it leaving is easy, you gotta fight the sh|t you dont like :D

I agree with you it is a totally crapy reason to fire a person or for a company to treat people like this. My point is if it is in the hand book then he is dead in the water.

In the US you can fire a person for any reason you want. Our laws are much more laxed than Germany's or other European countries. The thing is you have to prove why you fired that person when they apply for unemployment.

[stncttr908]

Originally posted by ibGoodEnuf
Cool enough then, Vamp. I can accept ribbing, I guess I am just a bit sensitive right now. Yeah man, don't take it too seriously. A lot of the seniors here have ripped into me before, but tis all in good fun.

Well, if J&J and Ethicon could lay off my pops for being too old, I guess any corporation can do whatever they'd like.