Complaints cause loss of job

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Complaints cause loss of job

Posted by

Misty Tompkins

in Opinions

Wednesday, February 3. 2010

Comments (16)

Hi Central Georgians,
This is a follow up on my letter from last week, in The Dodge County News. Obviously I hit a nerve for someone. And would like to apologize to any customers I may have offended.

Although I never mentioned my place of employment, and I included all waitresses and servers, no matter where they worked. When I returned to work Thursday, I lost my job; yes my boss fired me, and said he had some customers complain, not about my job performance but about my letter! I only said that if you can afford to eat out in a restaurant where you have service from a waitress or server you need to think about what they do to help you have a good meal.
Well, since when in America can’t you speak your opinion. Again if there were some complaints, I obviously hit a nerve for some and if I offended you I do apologize. I only wanted to let those that do not tip a waitress or server know that as long as good service is what you get, then you need to thank your waitress or server for their service by leaving a tip. They do the cleaning up.
I’ll say it again, I never mention my place of employment and I included all waitresses and servers. Since I’ve been fired from my job, I’ve had several people say that what I wrote was the truth and they did not understand why I was fired for freedom of speech and my opinion.
I pray for all those who enjoy their jobs, meeting and working with customers everyday. I know I did/ and I know I did my job well for the customers. I am a woman with a family to help support and the jobs around here are few. I worked as a waitress for 30 years, because I enjoyed working with the public and meeting people.
If you are a tipping customer you are showing your waitress appreciation for a job well done, and they thank you, and so do I. I will find a job somewhere because my God will provide for me and my family.

GOD BLESS YOU
Tammy Pirkle

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#1 Matt Oxley on 02/03/10 at 10:20 AM [Reply]

perhaps your employer should rethink their position and back up their employees rather than pandering to a few grumpy old customers.

I will not be a patron of any location that does not appreciate their workers right to speak an opinion, especially when their business is not mentioned.

Also, I think there is a massive amount of irony in the fact that there is a sign that encourages patrons to tip their waitress posted right behind the register of this establishment. Hypocrites much?

#2 Constance Braswell on 02/04/10 at 12:02 AM [Reply]

Name the business and I will surely avoid it

#2.1 Louise Barnes on 02/10/10 at 02:09 AM [Reply]

Name of the business is Minick's Pizza in Eastman, Ga. Thank you, for speaking up for freedom of SPEECH.

#3 Autumn Kitchens on 02/04/10 at 09:54 AM [Reply]

I have read both letters and see no reason why you should have lost your job over stating your opinion. I applaud you for speaking up, and if someone will name this establishment, I, too, will be avoiding it!

#3.1 tammy pirkle on 02/07/10 at 05:06 PM [Reply]

I do thank you for your comments. I felt like my boss was taking the wrong side of things, but I just thought people should know that we as waitress try to do the best job possible to make sure all needs are met when they eat out and that the waitress should be shown some appreciation for cleaning up after them. I know I did my job because I was raised that you always do your best because the one you service may have a better ofter than you have now. I just want to provide for my children and pay my bills.Now I have to wait to see if I can get Unemployment til I can find another job. Thanks again, It used to be the pizza Inn, in Eastman.

#4 Pinkie on 02/04/10 at 11:57 PM [Reply]

I, too, agree with the above remarks. Your employer was wrong.

Many people have given their all so that we may speak freely and practice our beliefs in whatever way we so desire.

I say name the place of business and let us all avoid it. I, also, have worked in jobs where the 'tip' was a major part of my pay. I am disgusted when I see people leave no tips or tips so small that they should be ashamed to leave them.

#4.1 Bob Pirkle on 02/06/10 at 06:56 PM [Reply]

hi thanks for your opinion, this is my wife and I am very proud of her for speaking her mind the way she did. she was told even though she did not mention the name of his business. everyone knew where she worked. well obviously everone don't because alot of people has ask her why not mention it so they could avoid it. well we think it may hurt her in other ways. all i will say it use to be pizza inn.

#5 Joyce King on 02/06/10 at 02:33 PM [Reply]

I am replying to the story about Tammy losing her job for speaking her opinion and utlizing her First Amendment Right -Freedom of Speach. She worked for the M. Pizza in town. I simply think its wrong to lose a job after writing a comment in the local paper. I know for a fact that Tammmy speaks the truth about customers not tipping. I use to waitress in different establishments in Eastman. I worked hard to possibly get a dollar tip just from one customer. If you are too cheap to throw a tip, consider throwing a dollar on top of your bill and help clean your own table. If that's too much,stay home. Tammy needs to contact the American Civil Liberties Union. Please keep the readers informed!!

#6 DENISE P on 02/11/10 at 12:27 PM [Reply]

I THINK WE NEED TO THANK THE DODGE COUNTY NEWS FOR PRINTING OUR THOUGHTS AND VIEWS EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE CORRECT IN CERTAIN ELITES EYES, BUT THIS IS STILL AMERICA !!!! WE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEACH. THATS WHAT WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR IN THE PAST AND WHAT OUR TROUPS FIGHT FOR TODAY.

#7 Cherokee on 02/11/10 at 04:18 PM [Reply]

It is time for all, every woman, man, boy, or girl to stand up for their rights. It does not matter what gender or race we are, the bottom line is that we all get discriminated against. We get criticized for speaking out and not meaning to step on anyone toes but the truth is the truth and it must be told. Tammy I wish you and your family well. I am sure God will bless you with a bettr job than what you had. Sometime a door has to close so we can get to the better one than God has for us.

#7.1 Tamy P. on 02/11/10 at 07:37 PM [Reply]

I want to thank everyone for thier input about what happened to me,and my family about my job.I do pray that God has a bettr job for me out there somewhere close to home.I pray for everyone of you also.I can not take back my words or my thoughts on the matter.I do thank The Dode County News for Printing whatI wrote.I hope no one else loses thier job over thier freedom to speak.I've been Denied my unemployment now also. So Please do keep us in your prayers.I need a job with someone that appreciates a hard working employee.

#7.1.1 JoeWest on 02/17/10 at 09:05 AM [Reply]

Tammy, you need to get an attorney. Good luck and thanks for your service to this community for so many years. I will avoid this restaurant and ask others to do the same.

#8 Marcie on 02/13/10 at 03:40 AM [Reply]

Tammy,
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you and your family... I met you 5 yrs. ago when you married Bob and I have to say every since I have known you you have always been a hard worker...And trying to help others.. This is WRONG in sooo many ways... I think anyone and everyone should quit going to m.pizza I wouldn't give them one penny of my money after treating an employee like this.... And if someone got offened or complained about the article... well... maybe it hit home on some level!!! I too have waitressed before when I was in college and it is a hard job.. and you have those customers that appreciate you and treat you right and then you have the others...that shouldn't go out to eat at a restuarant if they can't afford to tip.. Customary tipping is 15% of your bill and 20% if you received great service.. I always tip at least 20% when I have great service...and sometimes more.. again depends on service..
Anyway... you and your family will be in my prayers..I'm proud of you for speaking up!!! More people should do this and maybe things would be different..

#9 Mr. Pink on 02/15/10 at 07:36 AM [Reply]

You should be happy to have a job in this economy. I'm sorry that the government taxes your tips, I really am, but if you think I'm going to help out with your rent when I'm just coming for a meal, you are mistaken. It's not a four star restaurant; it's a pizza buffet. The owner is probably struggling to maintain customers as it is without someone scaring them away. And 30 years as a waitress? Go back to school already.

#9.1 Matt Oxley on 02/15/10 at 09:16 AM [Reply]

You don't sound very sorry about it.

No one is asking you to help out with the rent, but when services are rendered to you you should tip based on those services.

Last time I went to the place of business being discussed, over 3 years ago, the price was 18$ for two people...I wouldn't be surprised if it is more, but for the sake of mathematics lets assume it's still the same. A 15% tip on that is only $2.70, certainly not something to break the bank with. If you can't afford to leave a reasonable tip like that then you can't afford to go out and eat or perhaps you should stick to the dollar menu.

No one should simply "be happy" because they have a job that pays less than minimum wage, the shut up and sing attitude you espouse doesn't reward the hard work that a waitress may put into her job. When cheap and inconsiderate people say things like that I find it rather disturbing.

#9.2 Mr. Bob Pirkle on 02/17/10 at 01:43 PM [Reply]

Hi This is Mr. Bob Pirkle this is my wife we are talking about. and she has been a waitress that long because she loves her job, and she was talking about ALL waitresses and servers not just her. she just had the gutts enough to not only put her opinion on the website but published it in the paper so everyone can read it. And your statement your not helping pay the rent, well I guess you should stay home and eat from now own because when you paid your bill,part of that was the waitresses also,so you did help pay her bill, sorry to break that to you. all she was talking about was all waitresses work for tips as their main pay. its people being cheap that dont tip.if you recieve good service the least you could do is tip $1.00. you did'nt have to cook, clean a dish, or clean up behind yourself. I wonder how people would like it if every job paid a low base pay and then you got tiped according to your job performance, and had a employer that did'nt tip.and as far as scaring people away she didnt even mention where she worked and its obvious by most responses on line a lot of people didnt know. one of the owners complaints is people not paying at all sometime just walking out, she even sugessted to him to have people pay first when they walk in. the owner could never coplain about her job performance just fired her for speaking her oppinion. mabye Mr Pink who ever that is was the one that complained to him, and if so she is truly sorry if she offended you. but next time you eat anywhere someone waits on you remember if that was your wife, son are daughter you would want the customer to show respect enough to leave a tip.Also Thank You MR.Oxley for your comments and others like HIM.

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