Five Guys Restaurant Employees Fired After Refusing Service To Police

Daphne, AL – Five Guys restaurant has fired or suspended multiple employees after an Alabama franchise refused service to the City of Daphne police officers service on July 7.

The police department released a statement that said the officers entered the Five Guys and learned there was a requirement to wear a mask while in the store.

The police officers went back to their vehicles and got their masks and returned to the Five Guys.

That’s when multiple employees turned their back to the officers and allegedly said, “I’m not serving them.”

“The events that occurred while the officers were in the restaurant were unfortunate,” the Daphne Police Department said, according to WPMI. “We will continue to work with Five Guys on this matter towards resolution once all the facts are known.”

The police department added, “The Daphne Police Department does not think that the actions of a few employees represents Five Guys as a whole.”
Daphne Police Sergeant Jason Vannoy said in an email, “The Daphne Police Department appreciates the outpouring of support from our community and from supporters of Law Enforcement across the country. We also want to thank Five Guys on a corporate and local level. We have been working through this situation and there has been total cooperation.”

Five Guys corporate office released a statement that it was investigating the incident.

“Five Guys and the franchisee are actively investigating the situation and are committed to getting to the bottom of it,” the statement said, according to WPMI. “However, no matter what the details are, we do not want these police officers, or any customer, to feel disrespected or slighted in anyway. We apologize to those officers and also want to make it clear that Five Guys and its franchisees are committed to fair, respectful, and equal treatment for all customers.”

On Friday, the involved employees were fired or suspended, according to WJHL.

The company released a new statement Friday which said, “Five Guys and the Daphne, AL franchise want to thank the Daphne Police Department for their support in working together toward a resolution. The actions the Daphne, AL franchise have taken include termination and suspension of the employees involved. The store has temporarily closed for further education and customer service training with a representative from the Daphne Police Department and will reopen at 4PM today, July 10th. As we uphold our commitment to fair, respectful, and equal treatment for all customers, please know that the actions and sentiments of a few employees in Daphne, AL do not represent Five Guys or the local franchisee.”