Jacksonville Pizza Hut To Workers: Don’t Even Think About Fleeing Irma Early

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Popular restaurant chain Pizza Hut has come under fire after a manager at one of its locations in Jacksonville told employees they couldn't evacuate more than 24 hours before Hurricane Irma struck and then had to return to work within 72 hours.

A photo originally posted on Reddit that has been making the rounds on Twitter appears to show a one-page note that tells Pizza Hut team members they are only allowed to miss shifts within 24 hours of Hurricane Irma's arrival. Those who missed shifts before then would be considered a "no call/no show," and "documentation" would be issued. (For more information on the Pizza Hut letter and other Jacksonville stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

From Jacobin Magazine:

Pizza Hut wants its minimum wage employees to risk their lives for corporate profits. (@KatiSipp) pic.twitter.com/r8rwb3O7I6
— Jacobin (@jacobinmag) September 11, 2017

"You cannot evacuate Friday for a Tuesday storm event," the letter said, later adding: "Expectation is that all TM's work their schedule until storm related closure (unless evacuating), then a 24 hour period will be given."

Watch: Pizza Hut Threatened To Fire Employees Fleeing Irma

The memo said their highest priority is safety and security of the workers and that the store's general practice is to evacuate six to 12 hours before the storm hits — or the night before if it's a daytime storm.

The city ordered mandatory evacuations for some residents, and all residents had to be evacuated by 8 p.m. Saturday. The sheriff's office sent out a tweet Tuesday morning, seeming to scold residents who failed to evacuate.

Pizza Hut said in a statement that it absolutely does not have a "policy that dictates when team members can leave or return from a disaster." The manager who posted the letter did not abide by company guidelines, the chain said.

The local franchise operator has addressed the situation with the manager, Pizza Hut said.

Many people on Twitter blasted the chain over the memo.

wow @pizzahut how can you care so little about your employees? disgusting pic.twitter.com/foXb8sklYR
— marxist at large (@lil_yenta) September 9, 2017

Pizza Hut says "Our #1 Priority is the safety of our team" Doesn't look that way from the rules its low-wage workers face on evacuating Irma pic.twitter.com/xOjl6LlPOK
— Steven Greenhouse (@greenhousenyt) September 11, 2017

DON'T BUY PIZZA FROM PIZZA HUT AT ALL COSTS pic.twitter.com/M6dZsCeCf7
— Jack Mulligan (@J4CKMULL) September 12, 2017

"Our #1 priority is the safety and security of our team. But...." @pizzahut demands low-wage workers risk death during hurricane. https://t.co/Ln2ejlzc5E
— Aura Bogado (@aurabogado) September 10, 2017

Twitter user @Kati Sipp, of the National Guestworker Alliance, said in a statement the memo came from Reddit and the original posting was taken down. Sipp said the original poster wanted to remain anonymous out of concerns of losing their job.

Photo credit: Daniel Oines via Flickr/Creative Commons