Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:44 PM

Tucson executive loses job after confronting Chick-fil-A worker

Source: LA Times

Arizona resident Adam Smith thought he was doing good by taking a video of himself confronting a Chick-fil-A employee in the drive-thru lane Wednesday.

“Chick-fil-A is a hateful company,” Smith said to the employee in the video, which is still up on YouTube under multiple accounts.

But his employer, Tucson medical equipment manufacturer Vante, saw it differently. Vante has announced that Smith, formerly the chief financial officer and treasurer, no longer works there.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chickfila-drivethru-confrontation-executive-loses-job-20120802,0,5061379.story

This sort of thing does not help anyone.

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155 replies	Author	Time	Post
Tucson executive loses job after confronting Chick-fil-A worker (Original post)	evilDonkey	Aug 2012	OP
This message was self-deleted by its author	tomm2thumbs	Aug 2012	#1
I hope he sues his former employer. He was only exercising his right to free speech	Tx4obama	Aug 2012	#2
Free speech doesn't apply	Peregrine	Aug 2012	#6
Even in right-to-work states . . .	MrModerate	Aug 2012	#36
It's not a wrongful termination	twizzler	Aug 2012	#37
Hear! Hear!	BadtotheboneBob	Aug 2012	#75
He broke rules 1 & 3	rDigital	Aug 2012	#119
I don't disagree with anything you said . . .	MrModerate	Aug 2012	#128
I'm sorry and I call bullshit.....	Swede Atlanta	Aug 2012	#55
if you agree	MrDiaz	Aug 2012	#101
People keep saying a hateful company	twizzler	Aug 2012	#106
Didn't you get the memo?	PavePusher	Aug 2012	#154
Just trying to keep them honest.	twizzler	Aug 2012	#155
So let's say a RW asshole went through a drive through	onenote	Aug 2012	#112
Example of why GOP wants more privatization...	Evasporque	Aug 2012	#105
Good luck with that in a "right to work" state. nt	Greg K	Aug 2012	#15
Does he work for the Government? No, then no freedom of speech issue. nt	kelly1mm	Aug 2012	#19
People	niceguy	Aug 2012	#78
Like that thread about a boss saying he'd fire Democrats	treestar	Aug 2012	#147
He did not deserve to be terminated, but...	RandySF	Aug 2012	#3
He berated an employee making minimum wage.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#4
+1	freshwest	Aug 2012	#26
Chances are this is just a "final straw" thing	Warpy	Aug 2012	#34
My thoughts exactly.	emilyg	Aug 2012	#70
Having worked in service - including drive up windows - I try to make their jobs as easy as I can...	SomeGuyInEagan	Aug 2012	#110
Very poor judgement	Celebrate2012Victory	Aug 2012	#5
Could be. Smells bagger, like to kick the poor. But who knows?	freshwest	Aug 2012	#28
This Vante Corporation apparently thinks they litterally own their employees	DaveJ	Aug 2012	#7
The company didn't tell him what he could or could not say or do on his own time	slackmaster	Aug 2012	#14
I get it... I just don't agree with this aspect of our laws/culture.	DaveJ	Aug 2012	#22
Actions should not have consequences?	FrodosPet	Aug 2012	#73
Freedom of speech is a restriction on the GOVERNMENT, not private entities	kelly1mm	Aug 2012	#18
Arizona...What more can I say	zorro1	Aug 2012	#60
One of the first things I remember from	newblewtoo	Aug 2012	#23
Law can be enlightening -- RTW is about mind control basically	DaveJ	Aug 2012	#33
"for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," but not an illegal cause.	Ash_F	Aug 2012	#80
I don't know that his rant can be defended as political activism.	Thor_MN	Aug 2012	#148
Most companies have a code of conduct.	Beacool	Aug 2012	#64
Epic fail Mr. Smith...../nt	think	Aug 2012	#8
why fire him?	Enrique	Aug 2012	#9
No he wasn't.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#10
Yep, venting at a poorly paid employee who is powerless and then posting it to youtube	think	Aug 2012	#13
+1	freshwest	Aug 2012	#29
The best stating of the situation on this pages series of good stating of the issue. Thankyou ...	marble falls	Aug 2012	#74
What an ass. Since he went to the trouble of very publicly being an ass...	JHB	Aug 2012	#11
Creating sympathy for the chicken joint? This doesn't sound right to me. But I tend to be:	freshwest	Aug 2012	#32
A CFO and he didn't realize this could happen to him?	A Simple Game	Aug 2012	#12
Yep that's being overlooked.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#17
Makes you wonder how he treated the people working for him, huh?	freshwest	Aug 2012	#30
Similar thread a few before yours	kelly1mm	Aug 2012	#16
I am pro-gay, but if I were that employee, I would say	ejbr	Aug 2012	#20
watching the video is important	Enrique	Aug 2012	#21
If thats normal to you.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#24
He said....	ejbr	Aug 2012	#25
he sounds like a fucking annoying jackass , she made clear she is just working there	JI7	Aug 2012	#57
"I don't know how you live with yourself".	Beacool	Aug 2012	#68
He also told her she deserved better - why isn't anyone finishing what he said?	Hestia	Aug 2012	#72
Easy to say that as a jackass	Broderick	Aug 2012	#121
I found that curious also	twizzler	Aug 2012	#122
I'm okay with people facing consequences for being dicks to service-industry workers. (nt)	Posteritatis	Aug 2012	#27
What an asshole.	-..__...	Aug 2012	#31
Wow, that got him fired?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#35
If he hadn't recorded it and posted it on youtube	twizzler	Aug 2012	#39
+ 1 n/t	ejbr	Aug 2012	#40
She could have easily said she agreed with him.	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#42
Has nothing to do with free speech.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#46
Wow, that's a lot you know about her.	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#56
she was on the fucking job, what the fuck is she supposed to do, she isn't in charge	JI7	Aug 2012	#58
Really?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#59
why should she ? for her it's just about doing the job while there , the whole thing is just so	JI7	Aug 2012	#61
The First Amendment doesn't apply to your employer.	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#62
She would have probably lost her job.	Beacool	Aug 2012	#66
Would she have lost her job if she high fived a bigot?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#69
I am sure all the employees were briefed by their managers on how to act	hack89	Aug 2012	#83
Speculation.	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#136
I don't understand why you are so worked up about this.	hack89	Aug 2012	#140
Worked up?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#152
Because he displayed incredibly poor judgement by recording it	hack89	Aug 2012	#153
He wasn't representig his employer.	eilen	Aug 2012	#96
It doesn't matter	twizzler	Aug 2012	#102
Unless you are privy to his contract, that is conjecture	eilen	Aug 2012	#143
But it is their business when you bring shame to the company	twizzler	Aug 2012	#145
I bet his CEO is a bigger dick to his waitress, he just hasn't filmed it	eilen	Aug 2012	#97
He also went out of his way to humiliate her on a personal basis	marshall	Aug 2012	#79
I believe that when you get that high up in a company	twizzler	Aug 2012	#82
No I wouldn't if some jerk goes after the gas attendant.	Beacool	Aug 2012	#65
LOL, you call that "going off"?	Arctic Dave	Aug 2012	#67
I wonder if he still considers that water "free"...	Serve The Servants	Aug 2012	#38
that was dumb - a worker making min. wage can't do anything about what's done at the top in most	wordpix	Aug 2012	#41
Totally agree.	zellie	Aug 2012	#146
doesn't help who exactly?	fascisthunter	Aug 2012	#43
Anyone	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#44
you must belong to another side then	fascisthunter	Aug 2012	#45
What?	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#47
awww.... bully people? Sounds like I hit a nerve.... I am not on the side of corporations	fascisthunter	Aug 2012	#48
What are you talking about?	ForgoTheConsequence	Aug 2012	#49
oooops. I stand CORRECTED	fascisthunter	Aug 2012	#50
This post was alerted on. The jury voted 6/0 to let it stand.	ohiosmith	Aug 2012	#76
What a stupid distraction.	sofa king	Aug 2012	#51
I would have fired that jerk too. Immediately. n/t	SylviaD	Aug 2012	#52
I smell James O'Keefe	Tom Ripley	Aug 2012	#53
huh?	onenote	Aug 2012	#114
What a jackass...	Earth_First	Aug 2012	#54
I can't understand how anyone can't understand that he deserved to be fired	Broderick	Aug 2012	#123
So this guy felt validated after verbally attacking a young girl in a low wage job?	Beacool	Aug 2012	#63
Stupid man.	emilyg	Aug 2012	#71
CFOs work under contract. The first amendment does not exempt anyone from the terms of a contract	CBGLuthier	Aug 2012	#77
His employer firing him is its own issue, but his action was wrong. WE are better than that!	themaguffin	Aug 2012	#81
If Chick-fil-A's CEO has free speech rights, then why doesn't this guy?	sinkingfeeling	Aug 2012	#84
Because when you get that far up in a company	twizzler	Aug 2012	#86
No one in their right mind signs away their right to free speech.	sinkingfeeling	Aug 2012	#87
It's not a matter of free speech	twizzler	Aug 2012	#90
You have absolutely no proof that he ever signed a code of conduct. And I have	sinkingfeeling	Aug 2012	#104
You're right, I don't have any proof	twizzler	Aug 2012	#107
He is free to say whatever he wants	Broderick	Aug 2012	#124
Did you make a total ass of yourself during your protest?	Thor_MN	Aug 2012	#150
Who is going to fire CFA's CEO?	slackmaster	Aug 2012	#88
Apparently CEOs can say what they want; CFOs can't...	KansDem	Aug 2012	#91
The difference here is	twizzler	Aug 2012	#93
He does. Notice that neither are going to jail	4th law of robotics	Aug 2012	#118
They both have free speech...	LanternWaste	Aug 2012	#131
Being rude to a low level employee who has nothing to do with the owner is	yellowcanine	Aug 2012	#85
Nor I	Broderick	Aug 2012	#125
I'm not a lawyer, but I think that termination would be actionable in court.	closeupready	Aug 2012	#89
No it won't	twizzler	Aug 2012	#92
If he takes them to court, they are likely to try to settle.	closeupready	Aug 2012	#94
I highly doubt it	twizzler	Aug 2012	#95
Doubt away. I'm not trying to convince you of anything.	closeupready	Aug 2012	#98
Of course your entitled to your opinion	twizzler	Aug 2012	#100
Absolutely.	Major Hogwash	Aug 2012	#103
I doubt it.	twizzler	Aug 2012	#109
Care to illuminate for us lawyers what the "various grounds" on which he could base a suit	onenote	Aug 2012	#116
snicker	Broderick	Aug 2012	#126
It's very easy for the rest of us to see.	Major Hogwash	Aug 2012	#127
I guess I'm having a hard time with the part of the law	onenote	Aug 2012	#129
So make it very easy for us to see	twizzler	Aug 2012	#130
I don't eat at Chick-Fil-A	Major Hogwash	Aug 2012	#132
We don't have Chick-Fil_A here	twizzler	Aug 2012	#134
Worst avoidance of a question ever.	onenote	Aug 2012	#137
You'll be waiting a long time for a response.	COLGATE4	Aug 2012	#151
Do you have any intention of pointing out the obvious to us?	twizzler	Aug 2012	#144
Who's the rest of us??	Serve The Servants	Aug 2012	#141
I don't think she was bullied nor threatened.	eilen	Aug 2012	#99
not just to you...	sweetapogee	Aug 2012	#135
He did however post her image on Youtube after she expressed her discomfort	marshall	Aug 2012	#138
Perhaps she and other workers could sue the CEO for creating a "hostile work environment"	KansDem	Aug 2012	#108
Interesting theory	twizzler	Aug 2012	#115
A gay CFA worker speaks:	mahatmakanejeeves	Aug 2012	#111
Thank you for that wonderful post	twizzler	Aug 2012	#113
I'm sure the 18 year old working for minimum wage totally has sway over this multinational company	4th law of robotics	Aug 2012	#117
The thing is that's not Chick Fil A's stance	twizzler	Aug 2012	#120
He played right into Fox News hands...	Green_Lantern	Aug 2012	#133
My guess is that he was just as big an asshole at his job	Nye Bevan	Aug 2012	#139
He should have left their employees alone	Ter	Aug 2012	#142
The young lady showed great class and restraint.	NCTraveler	Aug 2012	#149

Response to evilDonkey (Original post)

tomm2thumbs This message was self-deleted by its author.

Response to evilDonkey (Original post)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:53 PM

Tx4obama (28,886 posts)

2. I hope he sues his former employer. He was only exercising his right to free speech

on his own time during lunch!

Tucson executive loses job after confronting Chick-fil-A worker

2. I hope he sues his former employer. He was only exercising his right to free speech

6. Free speech doesn't apply

36. Even in right-to-work states . . .

37. It's not a wrongful termination

75. Hear! Hear!

119. He broke rules 1 & 3

128. I don't disagree with anything you said . . .

55. I'm sorry and I call bullshit.....

101. if you agree

106. People keep saying a hateful company

154. Didn't you get the memo?

155. Just trying to keep them honest.

112. So let's say a RW asshole went through a drive through

105. Example of why GOP wants more privatization...

15. Good luck with that in a "right to work" state. nt

19. Does he work for the Government? No, then no freedom of speech issue. nt

78. People

147. Like that thread about a boss saying he'd fire Democrats

3. He did not deserve to be terminated, but...

4. He berated an employee making minimum wage.

26. +1

34. Chances are this is just a "final straw" thing

70. My thoughts exactly.

110. Having worked in service - including drive up windows - I try to make their jobs as easy as I can...

5. Very poor judgement

28. Could be. Smells bagger, like to kick the poor. But who knows?

7. This Vante Corporation apparently thinks they litterally own their employees

14. The company didn't tell him what he could or could not say or do on his own time

22. I get it... I just don't agree with this aspect of our laws/culture.

73. Actions should not have consequences?

18. Freedom of speech is a restriction on the GOVERNMENT, not private entities

60. Arizona...What more can I say

23. One of the first things I remember from

33. Law can be enlightening -- RTW is about mind control basically

80. "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," but not an illegal cause.

148. I don't know that his rant can be defended as political activism.

64. Most companies have a code of conduct.

8. Epic fail Mr. Smith...../nt

9. why fire him?

10. No he wasn't.

13. Yep, venting at a poorly paid employee who is powerless and then posting it to youtube

29. +1

74. The best stating of the situation on this pages series of good stating of the issue. Thankyou ...

11. What an ass. Since he went to the trouble of very publicly being an ass...

32. Creating sympathy for the chicken joint? This doesn't sound right to me. But I tend to be:

12. A CFO and he didn't realize this could happen to him?

17. Yep that's being overlooked.

30. Makes you wonder how he treated the people working for him, huh?

16. Similar thread a few before yours

20. I am pro-gay, but if I were that employee, I would say

21. watching the video is important

24. If thats normal to you.

25. He said....

57. he sounds like a fucking annoying jackass , she made clear she is just working there

68. "I don't know how you live with yourself".

72. He also told her she deserved better - why isn't anyone finishing what he said?

121. Easy to say that as a jackass

122. I found that curious also

27. I'm okay with people facing consequences for being dicks to service-industry workers. (nt)

31. What an asshole.

35. Wow, that got him fired?

39. If he hadn't recorded it and posted it on youtube

40. + 1 n/t

42. She could have easily said she agreed with him.

46. Has nothing to do with free speech.

56. Wow, that's a lot you know about her.

58. she was on the fucking job, what the fuck is she supposed to do, she isn't in charge

59. Really?

61. why should she ? for her it's just about doing the job while there , the whole thing is just so

62. The First Amendment doesn't apply to your employer.

66. She would have probably lost her job.

69. Would she have lost her job if she high fived a bigot?

83. I am sure all the employees were briefed by their managers on how to act

136. Speculation.

140. I don't understand why you are so worked up about this.

152. Worked up?

153. Because he displayed incredibly poor judgement by recording it

96. He wasn't representig his employer.

102. It doesn't matter