A good deed turned sour for a 73-year-old Florida veteran when he was fired from a Cracker Barrel restaurant for giving a muffin to a homeless man.
Joe Koblenzer greeted customers as they visited the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Venice for the last three years, ABC 7 reported. But two weeks ago Koblenzer said he was fired because he gave a corn muffing to a needy man. The 73-year-old is now unemployed, but he says he does not regret his actions because morally it was the right thing to do.
Koblenzer, a Vietnam vet, said the man walked in one day asking if he could have some condiments.
"He looked a little needy. He asked if I had any mayonnaise and some tarter sauce. He said he was going to cook a fish," Koblenzer told ABC 7.
Next thing Koblenzer knew, he was out of a job.
"The General Manager called me in and said he had some bad news for me. 'Joe we are going to have to let you go,' " the veteran said.
As it turns out, Koblenzer was previously reprimanded for violating Cracker Barrel rules. He was once written up for drinking soda while on duty. Another time he was written up for giving a woman a cup of coffee, which Koblenzer said he paid for.
But according to Cracker Barrel, Koblenzer went against the company's policy on several occasions since he was hired in April 2011.
Koblenzer "violated the Company's policies regarding consuming food without paying or giving away free food, on five separate occasions," a company spokesperson told the station. "Mr. Koblenzer received multiple counselings and written warnings reminding him about the company's policies.
"On the fifth occasion, again per Company policy, Mr. Koblenzer was terminated," the spokesperson said.
Koblenzer, who is currently looking for a new job, said the restaurant had a right to fire him because he broke the rules. But he does not regret what he did one bit.
"I don't think I will be working for a corporation again, so I don't know if that will ever come up," he said laughing.
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