Chicago Area Car Salesman Now Unemployed Thanks to His Packers Necktie

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Pictured above, wearing a rather unfashionable Green Bay Packers necktie, is John Stone, a car salesman at Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn. Rather, Stone is a former employee of Webb Chevrolet, after being unceremoniously fired for wearing that same tie to work on Monday, a day after the Packers beat the Bears in the NFC Championship.

Stone donned the Packers tie to honor his late grandmother, a huge Green Bay fan who died a mere two days before the championship game, and to show off his team pride following their win. The 34-year-old says he's been a fan of the team since he first saw former RB Ahman Green suit up for the Pack.

Stone's boss, general manager Jerry Roberts, didn't think the tie was appropriate attire for a dealership that spends $20,000 a month on advertising with the Bears, adding that by wearing the tie, his former employee was "salting the wounds" of the Chicago defeat.

When asked if Stone was fired because of his Packers necktie, Roberts answered "correct."

According to Stone, no customer had complained about the supposedly offensive apparel, a claim which Roberts backs up. Still, at 10:30 a.m. Roberts told Stone to remove the tie, a request that Stone initially thought was a joke…right up until he got canned for refusing to take it off.

"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?"

Stone had been employed at the dealership for 1 1/2 months, and according to Roberts, the Packers fan was a damn good salesman, having sold 14 cars the previous month. Roberts also said that he gave Stone five chances to remove the tie, but refused every time.

"If he loves the tie more than his job, he's welcome to keep wearing it — elsewhere," Roberts said.

http://lastangryfan....ackers-necktie/

Edited January 26, 2011 by 8TBVBN

[The_Dude 1,142]

It was a justified termination.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It was a justified termination.

Seems petty to me.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Seems petty to me.

agreed

[The_Dude 1,142]

agreed

Why? The guy was asked 5 times to take it off. His employers spend $20,000 per month in promotions with or through the Chicago Bears. That is clearly one of their marketing points. That would be like me wearing this t-shirt to work and not expect to get fired.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Why? The guy was asked 5 times to take it off. His employers spend $20,000 per month in promotions with or through the Chicago Bears. That is clearly one of their marketing points. That would be like me wearing this t-shirt to work and not expect to get fired.

wear that to work and if you get fired, we'll say it's petty too.

[luckytxn 2,264]

If he can sell 14 cars in a month then he will not be unemployed long.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Why? The guy was asked 5 times to take it off. His employers spend $20,000 per month in promotions with or through the Chicago Bears. That is clearly one of their marketing points. That would be like me wearing this t-shirt to work and not expect to get fired.

Asking him to take it off was petty also, IMO. It wasn't like he was wearing a big cheese wedge on his head - the tie was very unassuming. Did the boss have a right to fire him? Sure, but it wasn't justified, IMO.

[The_Dude 1,142]

wear that to work and if you get fired, we'll say it's petty too.

It's not petty. The car salesman was benig a petulent child. He had to know that it would at least get negative comments. The guy is being a petulent child.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's not petty. The car salesman was benig a petulent child. He had to know that it would at least get negative comments. The guy is being a petulent child.

...or perhaps he thought his boss was being petty and wasn't about to be bullied around for wearing a stupid tie.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Asking him to take it off was petty also, IMO. It wasn't like he was wearing a big cheese wedge on his head - the tie was very unassuming. Did the boss have a right to fire him? Sure, but it wasn't justified, IMO.

Yes it was justified stephen. I don't think I would suffer an employee who disobeyed 5 times.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Yes it was justified stephen. I don't think I would suffer an employee who disobeyed 5 times.

You wouldn't be a very popular boss if you went around firing employees for wearing neckties with an opposing team. What's next? Firing a woman for wearing Packers earrings? You Bears fans just can't take losing.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Yes it was justified stephen. I don't think I would suffer an employee who disobeyed 5 times.

the darth vader management style usually doesn't last long.

[The_Dude 1,142]

You wouldn't be a very popular boss if you went around firing employees for wearing neckties with an opposing team. What's next? Firing a woman for wearing Packers earrings? You Bears fans just can't take losing.

Stephen, did you even read the part about the money the guy spends on bears related promotions? What about the fact that the guy was asked 5 times to remove it. He could have been a man, removed it under protest and kept his job. But he had to be a drama queen. Sorry, he had a minimum of 5 opportunities to keep his job.

the darth vader management style usually doesn't last long.

I don't see that as particularly heavy handed. The car dealership has a vested interest and caters to sports fans.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

no one complained except the general manager. maybe he needs a butthurt report.