Restaurant Policies. Can they fire me for closing the store for having no hot water?

Question

I was fired for closing the store because earlier that night my water heater went out. Can they actually get away with that?

Answer 1

Call the EEOC.  If its a corporate chain, they can almost do whatever they want.

Answer 2

In California, it's a health code violation to operate a restaurant without hot water. You're supposed to shut down until hot water is restored. If you just shut down and went home without notifying anyone, I can see where the company might be upset, but if you shut down and then tried to remedy the problem, you were doing the right thing.

Answer 3

No way Jose, and if they do you will have to report them, that is so totally against the law.

Answer 4

I would think that would be some kind of health code violation.  You need hot water to properly wash the dishes. Call the health department and then the labor board. Good luck!

Answer 5

There should have been other actions taken before closing the store. A repairman & a higher up should have been called. Water could have been boiled to use for washing. The cost of having someone come in to fix it, is nothing compared to the money lost to closing the doors.

You cost your company lots of money by shutting down. You still had water available to you, just not hot water. There was no health code violated. So the guests aren't able to have coffee or tea at the end of their meal. That's just a chance to sell after dinner drinks instead. I would have even gone as far as running to a drug store & picking up a coffee maker or two, so the guests could have some. Unless it was a clear threat to the staff & guests, I really can't see the injustice here.

Answer 6

You obviously violated their procedures to close a store before normal closing hours.  You probably didn't have that power to begin with, so it's insubordination. Getting fired may have been harsh for the situation, but it was most likely the last straw. They may have been searching for a reason to fire you before hand.  Move on.  And depending on where you live, you can be fired at anytime, for any reason, or no reason at all in "at will" work states.

Answer 7

no its a violation of a health code, you should have tried to get it fixed, call your bosses boss if there is one

Answer 8

No you should'nt be fired for this reason.they should repair that heater.If neccessory u should explain them.

Answer 9

u should of called a manager even if u had to call them at home first

Answer 10

Depending on the policies of the restuarant they can, if you didn't follow their policies.  I would suggest speaking to an employment attorney about your options, and file for unemployment and talk to the unemployment office about your termination.