Dunkin’ Employee Fired After Pouring Water on Homeless Man
Dunkin' Donuts has fired the employee caught pouring water on a homeless man in Syracuse.
Kimberly Wolak, Dunkin' franchise owner and Chief Operating Officer of The Wolak Group released a statement after the video went viral:
Dunkin' has been a part of the Syracuse community for many years, and as the franchisees who own and operate the North Salina Street location, we were extremely disturbed by the behavior of our employees captured in the video. It not only violated our written policies, but goes against our core values as an organization--which include creating a welcoming and hospitable environment and treating everyone with dignity and respect.
The employee was suspended before being fired and Wolak says they plan to contact Jeremy Dufresne to "apologize for the negative experience." There are also plans to work with local advocates to educate staff on how to "engage with homeless individuals and where to direct them in the community for appropriate assistance."
Dufresne was in a Salina Street Dunkin' when an employee poured water on him, telling him to leave. It was captured on video and quickly went viral on Facebook. Dufresne tells Syracuse.com he was in Dunkin' to charge his phone so he could call his mom. He says he wasn't sleeping. He'd just put his head down.
Charges of harassment are being considered by the Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick against not only the man who poured the water, but the one heard laughing in the video too, according to Syracuse.com.
Is getting fired and being charged with harassment, which is equivalent to a getting a speeding ticket, enough? Does it make up for treating a human being in such an inhumane way? Maybe tacking on community service at a homeless shelter would make a difference and change perspectives.
Garth Brooks said or should I say sang it best...When we all walk hand in hand, we shall be free.