Pretty crappy of this manager....

[Morpheus]

To do this to a 17 year old kid.

Tacoma teen fired after wearing Broncos jersey to work - CBSSports.com

Sure , he got fired for not returning to work after being sent home to change and not because he wore a Bronco Jersey.

But how much of a douche do you have to be to let a football rivalry make your decision to humiliate a kid?

 

[Morpheus]

I think everyone should e-mail the Delta Bravo and let him know what we think of that.

Party For Kids Tacoma | Kid Party Pierce County | Kids Games

 

[Morpheus]

Haha, my old Army buddy in washington sent them an e-mail and copied me.

To whom it may concern,

I certainly understand that you have every right to terminate the employment of 17-year-old Nathaniel Wentz for not returning to work after he was sent home for wearing a Broncos Jersey.

You will probably hide behind the notion that he was not terminated for wearing the Bronco Jersey. He was terminated for failing to return to work his scheduled shift.

But since this story has already gone viral, is it really worth the bad publicity you are going to get from it?

When employees were told they could wear jerseys to work to show support for the game on Sunday, did you explicitly state they could only wear Seahawks jerseys?

I am sure fan loyalty played a part in your decision to send him home. It is unfortunate that you put a football rivalry above a business decision and it sounds like your ego was more important than the job of a 17 year old kid.

The only lesson you taught him is that fan rivalry is more important than a good work ethic .

I will be sure to send an e-mail to the owners of Odyssey 1 letting them know that our family and friends will no longer be patronizing your establishment based on this and we will be sure to tell everyone we know in the Sea-Tac area, Olympia, Spokane and Couer d'Alene.

But I doubt I will be telling them anything new since this story has already been picked up nationally by CBS Sports, and all the local news stations in Seattle and Denver.

Nice job. I am sure the owners are grateful for all the publicity, even if it is negative.

Your sincerely,

Former Patron.

 

[cdumler7]

Haha this kind of reminds me of the kids who got suspended for Tebowing in the hallway at school. Just seems like a stupid reason to do something like that.


Now I could understand this a little more if say this was a bar where people are getting drunk and make stupid decisions. This is at a kids establishment...Do you really think the people coming to the place are going to be upset about a Bronco jersey being worn? If anything it will offer up an opportunity for the kid to interact with the customers and have a little fun with it.

 

[Broncos6482]

I don't know, it sounds to me like this is much ado about nothing. If the kid didn't go back to work, they had every right to fire him. Seems to me the lesson they're teaching him is show up for work or we'll fire you and hire someone else.

 

[Morpheus]

I don't know, it sounds to me like this is much ado about nothing. If the kid didn't go back to work, they had every right to fire him. Seems to me the lesson they're teaching him is show up for work or we'll fire you and hire someone else.

Sure. And I acknowledged that. He was fired for not returning to work.

But don't you think it was wrong of him to send him home in the first place?

They were told they could wear jerseys to show support for their team. And obviously he was not specifically told he can't wear a Broncos jersey.

There was a another game on that day.

Not everyone in Washington is a Seahawks fan.

Not everyone in Denver is a Broncos fan.

We have a Bears fan in our office. He can wear whatever he wants on Fridays when we are casual.

The conversations around the break room get spirited, but he is not going to get sent home and told to change because this is "Broncos Country".

I am just saying that the manager handled it in a petty immature way in the first place.

Not firing him. Sending him home for wearing a teams jersey he did not like.

Not very professional.

 

[packerzrule]

happens all of the time


Chicago man wears Packers tie to work, is promptly fired - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports

 

[Morpheus]

happens all of the time


Chicago man wears Packers tie to work, is promptly fired - Shutdown Corner - NFL*Blog - Yahoo! Sports

I remember that story. Used car salesman, dredges of humanity, lol.

Difference here is, the kid is 17. Sure, he got fired because he did not got back to work. Probably decided that he did not want to work for some punk ass manager who was a Seahawks fan, lol.

I know that is how it would sound in my head if I were 17 and working a crappy minimum wage job at a family fun center.

 

[MrDoc420]

Manager sounds like a total douche.

The backlash on this is gonna be more than he bargained for, that's for damned sure. Good for that kid reppin' the D, and then not showing up after told he can't wear a Broncos uni. He's 17 and I'm sure there are hundreds of other jobs out there he can do while finishing high school (I'd assume so anyways).

 

[Broncos6482]

Sure. And I acknowledged that. He was fired for not returning to work.

But don't you think it was wrong of him to send him home in the first place?

They were told they could wear jerseys to show support for their team. And obviously he was not specifically told he can't wear a Broncos jersey.

There was a another game on that day.

Not everyone in Washington is a Seahawks fan.

Not everyone in Denver is a Broncos fan.

We have a Bears fan in our office. He can wear whatever he wants on Fridays when we are casual.

The conversations around the break room get spirited, but he is not going to get sent home and told to change because this is "Broncos Country".

I am just saying that the manager handled it in a petty immature way in the first place.

Not firing him. Sending him home for wearing a teams jersey he did not like.

Not very professional.

I disagree. So what if he wasn't specifically told before hand that he couldn't wear a Broncos jersey? If the manager came up to him after he showed up and said, "Hey, you know what? I know I didn't specify what jersey you were allowed to wear, but it's really only meant to be Seahawks jerseys. So I need you to go home and change."

So then the kid is so pissed off about it that he doesn't even bother showing up to work, and I'm supposed to feel sorry for him that he got fired? Not going to happen.

 

[MrDoc420]

I emailed these chumps and let them have it too FWIW. I'm sure I'll be just one of hundreds they'll get, but the more the better.

 

[Broncos6482]

Just for context, I live in Kansas City. I wear a tie to work. On Friday's before Broncos games, I have a Broncos tie that I wear. No one has ever said that I couldn't.

But if my manager came up to me and said, "Hey I know you've been wearing that tie for years, but that's really not what we had in mind so we need you to wear a more professional tie from here on, ok?" I wouldn't be upset about it. That's life. You do what your boss says, or you go find another job.

 

[MrDoc420]

I disagree. So what if he wasn't specifically told before hand that he couldn't wear a Broncos jersey? If the manager came up to him after he showed up and said, "Hey, you know what? I know I didn't specify what jersey you were allowed to wear, but it's really only meant to be Seahawks jerseys. So I need you to go home and change."

So then the kid is so pissed off about it that he doesn't even bother showing up to work, and I'm supposed to feel sorry for him that he got fired? Not going to happen.

The kid is 17 friggin' years old. It's not like he buried his professional career over this decision, and I'm sure he took that into account. There are a ton of jobs out there for teenagers. TBH.....if he grew up a Broncos fan since age 3, then chances are his parents are both die hard too, and probably even told him to hell with that place.

 

[Broncos6482]

The kid is 17 friggin' years old. It's not like he buried his professional career over this decision, and I'm sure he took that into account. There are a ton of jobs out there for teenagers. TBH.....if he grew up a Broncos fan since age 3, then chances are his parents are both die hard too, and probably even told him to hell with that place.

Then good for him. I don't blame him, and I don't blame the manager, either. If his jersey was important enough for him to not go back, good for him. If showing up to work is important to management, then good for him for firing him.

Now if he had shown up in the jersey and they'd fired him on the spot, that would be a story. This is nothing. The boss didn't like what the employee was wearing, says go home and change. Employee goes home and stays home. Boss says take a hike. Happens all the time. Nothing to see here.

 

[MrDoc420]

Right on. Still some petty ass shit to send an employee home over. Especially since he wasn't told he couldn't wear a Broncos jersey.

 

[Morpheus]

I disagree. So what if he wasn't specifically told before hand that he couldn't wear a Broncos jersey? If the manager came up to him after he showed up and said, "Hey, you know what? I know I didn't specify what jersey you were allowed to wear, but it's really only meant to be Seahawks jerseys. So I need you to go home and change."

So then the kid is so pissed off about it that he doesn't even bother showing up to work, and I'm supposed to feel sorry for him that he got fired? Not going to happen.

Well aren't you the hard ass? Do you think he "learned a valuable lesson" ?

See if you can separate the before and after.

I get and a agree that he should be fired for not returning to work after being sent home. Heck, he probably made his mind up to quit right then and there.

I don't feel sorry for him for that. I would have fired him too.

But If I were his boss, I would not have been so petty as to send him home in the first place.

I have managed a large staff and when you have a no show or have to send someone home, it affects the workplace. If I am sending someone home, it better be a damn good reason or my boss is going to want to know why productivity is suffering.

I can't think of one good reason why I need to send someone home for wearing a jersey when they were told they could wear jerseys other than "I am not a fan of that team" or "Because I said so".

Can you think of a good reason?

You don't feel sorry at all for a 17 year old kid who is just a Broncos fan?

Really?

 

[Morpheus]

Just for context, I live in Kansas City. I wear a tie to work. On Friday's before Broncos games, I have a Broncos tie that I wear. No one has ever said that I couldn't.

But if my manager came up to me and said, "Hey I know you've been wearing that tie for years, but that's really not what we had in mind so we need you to wear a more professional tie from here on, ok?" I wouldn't be upset about it. That's life. You do what your boss says, or you go find another job.

That is not the same thing. That is a dress code issue where they made a decision that your tie does not meet the standards.

What if your boss said, "Everyone can wear football ties this Friday" but does not specify the team. He assumes that everyone is a KC fan.

On a side note, Ties should be classy and elegant. I hate Disney ties, Christmas ties, Grateful Dead ties, Team sports ties, loud Tommy Bahama ties, or any "Theme" ties.

They look ridiculous.

 

[Broncos6482]

Well aren't you the hard ass?

Not really. I just think actions have consequences.

Do you think he "learned a valuable lesson" ?

I have no idea.

See if you can separate the before and after.

I get and a agree that he should be fired for not returning to work after being sent home. Heck, he probably made his mind up to quit right then and there.

I don't feel sorry for him for that. I would have fired him too.

And that's my point. So why is this an issue?

But If I were his boss, I would not have been so petty as to send him home in the first place.

Ok, but you're not his boss.

I have managed a large staff and when you have a no show or have to send someone home, it affects the workplace. If I am sending someone home, it better be a damn good reason or my boss is going to want to know why productivity is suffering.

I can't think of one good reason why I need to send someone home for wearing a jersey when they were told they could wear jerseys other than "I am not a fan of that team" or "Because I said so".

Can you think of a good reason?

Maybe because it wasn't dress code? Maybe because the company just doesn't want to promote anything other than the Seahawks?

I don't know; it's not my call. Is it kind of silly? Sure. But at the same time, people take sports VERY seriously, and that's pretty silly too when you think about it. So I don't blame the manager for what he did.

You don't feel sorry at all for a 17 year old kid who is just a Broncos fan?

Really?

Really. Why should I feel sorry for him? He can get a similar job tomorrow if he wants, and in the meantime, he gets to be on the news. Why in the world would I feel sorry for him?

 

[WalkerBoh]

Just for context, I live in Kansas City. I wear a tie to work. On Friday's before Broncos games, I have a Broncos tie that I wear. No one has ever said that I couldn't.

But if my manager came up to me and said, "Hey I know you've been wearing that tie for years, but that's really not what we had in mind so we need you to wear a more professional tie from here on, ok?" I wouldn't be upset about it. That's life. You do what your boss says, or you go find another job.

You're missing the point, and your example isn't pertinent to this story. The point is, the kid shouldn't have been sent home in the first place. The manager created a temporary policy change to allow jerseys. He should have considered the possibility that some Broncos jerseys would come into play. It was a stupid move on the part of the manager/boss, and just shows he isn't very good at his job. If I were this manager's direct supervisor, I'd be calling him into a meeting right about now.

 

[Broncos6482]

That is not the same thing. That is a dress code issue where they made a decision that your tie does not meet the standards.

I don't know, that sounds like exactly the same thing to me. They made a dress code decision and his jersey did not meet the standards.

What if your boss said, "Everyone can wear football ties this Friday" but does not specify the team. He assumes that everyone is a KC fan.

And then he says, "I meant Chiefs ties, go home and change it"? I'd change it.

On a side note, Ties should be classy and elegant. I hate Disney ties, Christmas ties, Grateful Dead ties, Team sports ties, loud Tommy Bahama ties, or any "Theme" ties.

They look ridiculous.

I don't know, I think my Broncos tie looks pretty sharp. That orange and blue looks really good together, and the logo is small enough that you can't even tell what it is until you get close.