A server at Olive Garden was fired the morning after a $700 tip was flagged for review; the server says the termination was retaliatory and not related to behavior, highlighting questions about how large tips are handled and reviewed at chain restaurants.
Oracle began global layoffs with notifications indicating immediate termination. Affected employees will be offered severance per the plan and must provide a personal email address for follow-up on separation documents and FAQs, which will be sent via DocuSign. Access to computers, email, and files will be deactivated, and employees are advised not to retain confidential Oracle data; questions can be directed to HR.
YesMadam, an Indian tech company offering in-home beauty services, fired employees who reported high stress levels in a company survey. The decision, intended to foster a "healthy and supportive work environment," has been criticized as counterproductive and indicative of poor management practices. Critics argue that firing stressed employees without addressing underlying issues exacerbates workplace toxicity and discourages honest feedback.
Sony will terminate its Sony Rewards program, linked to Sony and PlayStation-branded Visa credit cards, on December 31, 2024. Existing members can redeem points until then, but new members are no longer accepted. Customer service will cease on February 14, 2025, and cardholders will be contacted about changes to their credit cards.
A Taunton, Massachusetts, school crossing guard, Louis Chaves, was fired after allegedly attacking a mother and her child with a stop sign stick during an altercation outside Taunton High School. Chaves was charged with multiple counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The incident began when the mother stopped her car to sneeze, prompting Chaves to yell at her and then physically assault her and her child. The woman was hospitalized with cuts and abrasions. Chaves was released after arraignment and will return to court on August 8.
A Palestinian American nurse, Hesen Jabr, was fired by NYU Langone Health after referring to Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" during an award acceptance speech. The hospital cited a previous warning against discussing divisive issues at work. Jabr defended her comments, linking them to the nature of the bereavement award she received. This incident follows a history of terminations at the hospital over Middle East conflict-related comments.
Google fired 28 employees after protests at its offices against a cloud contract with the Israeli government, leading to arrests and accusations of indiscriminate terminations. The protests were in response to a $1.2bn contract with the Israeli government, known as Project Nimbus. Google claims the contract is not for military workloads, but protestors argue against supporting any military contracts. The terminations have sparked controversy, with accusations that Google values its contract with the Israeli government more than its own workers.
Google fired 28 employees who participated in in-office protests in California and NYC against the company's $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon for Project Nimbus, which provides services to Israel's government. The protests were organized by the tech group No Tech for Apartheid, which claims the contract enables the Israeli government to surveil and displace Palestinians. Nine workers were arrested, and the company's head of security described the protests as "extremely disruptive." Google stated that the contract is for workloads running on its commercial cloud by Israeli government ministries and does not involve highly sensitive or classified military projects relevant to weapons or intelligence services.
Google fired 28 employees who were involved in sit-in protests over the company's $1.2 billion Israeli government cloud contract, warning that disruptive behavior violates company policies and will not be tolerated. The "No Tech for Apartheid" group behind the protests called the firings retaliatory, stating that Google workers have the right to peacefully protest labor conditions. Google's head of global security emphasized that the company takes disruptive behavior seriously and will continue to apply its policies, including termination if necessary.
A campaign staffer for independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr was fired after telling Republican voters that beating President Joe Biden was her "number one priority" and encouraging them to volunteer for Donald Trump. The staffer, Rita Palma, misrepresented her role in the campaign and promoted a strategy to drive Democratic voters away from Biden to help Trump win. The campaign manager confirmed Palma's termination and clarified that her role was solely to schedule volunteer shifts, not to devise campaign strategy. Palma's allegiance to Kennedy has been questioned due to her history of supporting Trump, attending the "Stop the Steal" rally, and expressing support for Trump's potential 2024 candidacy.
Royal Bank of Canada fired CFO Nadine Ahn and treasury executive Ken Mason after discovering their undisclosed relationship led to preferential treatment, including promotions and compensation increases. The bank is now searching for a permanent CFO while its senior vice president of finance and controller, Katherine Gibson, serves as interim CFO. Ahn, who had been seen as a potential successor to RBC CEO Dave McKay, may not receive severance due to being terminated for cause.
A high school English teacher in Ohio, Eileen Washburn, is facing potential termination after allegedly calling in sick for two days to attend a concert in Nashville, Tennessee. The school board accused her of falsifying sick leave and refusing to provide details about her absence. Washburn, who is also a board member at another school district, is currently on unpaid leave and faces termination unless she requests a hearing by the next board meeting in April.
The University of Texas at Austin has terminated at least 20 employees working in diversity, equity, and inclusion due to Senate Bill 17, which prohibits certain activities in these areas. The university is discontinuing programs within the Division of Campus and Community Engagement, redistributing remaining programs, and reallocating funding to support teaching and research. UT President Jay Hartzell stated that the changes were necessary to comply with the bill, which went into effect on January 1. Staff members affected by the terminations will receive support from the Division of Student Affairs, while noncompliance with SB 17 could lead to consequences such as freezing of state funding or legal action.
Former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel is considering legal action after being fired by NBC News just two days after her debut, meeting with lawyer Bryan Freedman to discuss potential defamation and hostile work environment lawsuits against the network. Her termination came after public backlash from NBC stars, and she had only made one appearance on the network, acknowledging President Biden's election win.
A teacher in Taylor, Michigan, claims she was fired from her position at Taylor Preparatory High School due to her rap career and music videos, despite winning teacher of the month in December. The teacher, known as Drippin' Honey, says she was given an ultimatum to erase her rap content, which she refused. A parent and students have shown support for the teacher, while the school has stated that student well-being is their priority and that they are aware of the alleged claims.