Packer backer fired for wearing Green Bay tie

[Nyi28nhl]

With Chicago reeling from Sunday’s painful playoff loss, Monday morning probably wasn’t the best time for car salesman John Stone to share his love for the Green Bay Packers with co-workers and customers.

But Stone, 34, proudly showed up for work at Webb Chevrolet in south suburban Oak Lawn wearing his green-and-yellow Packers necktie anyway.

Now he’s former car salesman John Stone.

The morning after the Chicago Bears’ hated rivals beat them at Soldier Field to advance to the Super Bowl, Webb’s general manager Jerry Roberts says he fired Stone for refusing to remove the Packers-branded tie.

The facts aren’t in dispute, only the appropriateness of the novelty neckwear.

“He said, ‘You have two options,’ ” a furious Stone said later Monday. “Remove the tie, or you’re fired.”

“When I didn’t, he said, ‘You can leave, you’re fired.’ Does that sound fair to you?”

Packer backer fired for wearing Green Bay tie
www.suntimes.com/3473075-417/tie-stone-bears-customers-john.html

[blindlywewander]

that's illegal. while i'm not sure how happy the dude was being a car salesman, that's wrongful termination. i'd sue. then when i was back at work, i'd wear that tie every day for the rest of my time at the job.

[smokefan]

I do not feel any sympathy towards this guy. He was warned twice but didn't comply.

[blindlywewander]

I get the impression that the first time he thought his boss was joking. "Ha, you're being childish and petty. Good one boss." Then "Oh, You're serious? Well, f you then."

I wonder if the altercation ended with the Packer backer walking out saying "You can't fire me! I quit!" and then his boss shouting back, "You can't quit! You're fired!"

[Nyi28nhl]

Jan 26, 2011 19:22:31 GMT -5 blindlywewander said:

that's illegal. while i'm not sure how happy the dude was being a car salesman, that's wrongful termination. i'd sue. then when i was back at work, i'd wear that tie every day for the rest of my time at the job.

It's one hundred percent legal.

Illinois, as many states, is an "at-will employment" state. This means employees can be fired for any reason (or no reason) as long as it is not due to: race, gender, religion, disability.. and maybe one or two more things I am forgetting.

I would be shocked if a Court even agreed to hear a lawsuit from this.

[Nyi28nhl]

Jan 26, 2011 23:56:59 GMT -5 blindlywewander said:

I get the impression that the first time he thought his boss was joking. "Ha, you're being childish and petty. Good one boss." Then "Oh, You're serious? Well, f you then."

I wonder if the altercation ended with the Packer backer walking out saying "You can't fire me! I quit!" and then his boss shouting back, "You can't quit! You're fired!"

If he quit I doubt the boss would then fire him. Quitters don't get severance or benefits, where firee's do.

[blindlywewander]

Jan 27, 2011 9:54:38 GMT -5 Nyi28nhl said:

Jan 26, 2011 23:56:59 GMT -5 blindlywewander said:

I get the impression that the first time he thought his boss was joking. "Ha, you're being childish and petty. Good one boss." Then "Oh, You're serious? Well, f you then."

I wonder if the altercation ended with the Packer backer walking out saying "You can't fire me! I quit!" and then his boss shouting back, "You can't quit! You're fired!"

If he quit I doubt the boss would then fire him. Quitters don't get severance or benefits, where firee's do.

ha, i was just having some fun with the story.

[Nyi28nhl]

Jan 27, 2011 11:07:20 GMT -5 blindlywewander said:

Jan 27, 2011 9:54:38 GMT -5 Nyi28nhl said:

If he quit I doubt the boss would then fire him. Quitters don't get severance or benefits, where firee's do.

ha, i was just having some fun with the story.

I would've loved to be a fly on the wall in the room when he was fired.

Looks like the guy landed on his feet.

However, he wasn't out of work for long -- and he didn't have to move to Green Bay to find his next job.

It's a match made on TV. After hearing that wearing a Packers tie led to John Stone's demise at Webb Chevrolet, Guy Cesario of Homewood Chevy stepped in.

It led to an interview and tour. John is now a salesman at Homewood Chevrolet.

www.13wmaz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111611&catid=155