TRENDING: Restaurant draws backlash after allegedly terminating employee for feeding stray dogs
A Goto Tendon branch in Quezon City drew flak online after it allegedly terminated an employee who was giving food to stray dogs.
Content creator Baldawgs, whose real name is Vhal Sardia, shared on Facebook how he was supposedly fired from the fast food chain where he worked for five years over his posts about helping and feeding strays around their stores.
"[Sa] isang video na inupload ko last time, ito rin ang dahilan upang i-report ako ng aking supervisor sa aking opisina na nag-dulot ng aking pagkatanggal. Hindi ko po kasi napigilan na sila ay bigyan ng pagkain kaya't madalas ang ginagawa ko ang pagpapakain sa kanila off duty or break time ko," he wrote.
His video has since earned over 11 million views and 177,000 reactions.
@baldawgs Thank you sa Store na pinasukan ko tuloy pa din po ang Goal ko para sa mga Stray Dogs and Cats. Maraming salamat sa limang taon na aking pagtatrabaho bilang isang Food Server. #fyp #doglover #straydogs ♬ original sound - ♡ T i N a ♡
The content creator added that even though the company's move hurts him, he has no regrets about helping the stray animals.
"Masakit man sa akin na mawala ako sa aking trabaho, bilang may malasakit lang sa mga aso at pusa, ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin ang aking nais na sila ay tulungan sa simpleng paraan [tulad nang] pagpapakain, arugain, at pasayahin [amg mga] kawawang aso, 'yun nga lang pagbalik niyo sa store namin, ako'y wala na rin."
"Wala na rin magmamalasakit at magmamahal sa inyo, pero sigurado 'pag nakita ko kayo mga mahal kong aso at pusa, ang pagmamahal ko sa inyo ay hindi mawawala at hindi magbabago," he added.
In the comment section, Sardia narrated how the company fired him for "disrespect and [sanitation]" reasons and asked him to make a handwritten explanation letter.
"May pinapapirma po sa akin na against ako sa nakalagay. So hindi po ako pumirma, nagalit yung HR at sabI niya magtatagal daw kami dito sa loob ng office. Nagpatawag ng other employee, pinasara at pinabantay ang pinto para hindi ako makalabas sa office," the content creator underscored.
He added that he felt fear and "trauma" over the incident. "In 5 years service ko, ngayon lang po nangyare ito sa akin. Mali po ba ang ginawa ko? Ngayon, wala na po akong trabaho."
Social media users react
Many social media users lauded Sardia's dedication to stray animals.
"Yung mga ganitong empleyado dapat ang kinikeep ng company kasi siguradong mabuting tao. Sinayang ka nila kuya. Pero isa lang ang sigurado magkakaroon ka ng mas mabait na amo," one Facebook user said.
"Tuloy lang paps kung titigil tayo sa pag feeding dahil lang sa mga taong walang malasakit sa mga stray, magiging mas kawawa ang inosenteng nilalang," another user said.
While others understand the company's rule on sanitation, they also noted that this is not a "valid" reason for him to be easily terminated from work.
"I understand the [company's] policies but being this harsh is not ethical at all since the intention of the guy is just pure. They should have [given] a solution instead of just firing him right away," a user added.
"Sorry, but as much as I appreciate your action as an aspin lover. Sanitation and food safety is important in all food industries. I prefer that you do it after shift when you no longer wear the uniform you use as [a] food server," another one suggested.
Other online users also poured the comment section about a possible job offer to Sardia.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Goto Tendon for comment but has yet to receive a reply.