People become homeless for various reasons, often not due to any fault of their own. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of living has soared, leading many individuals to experience homelessness despite holding full-time jobs. However, not everyone has the privilege of having a relative to depend on or a regular job to sustain themselves. In such circumstances, these individuals rely on the compassion and assistance of strangers to make ends meet.
Victoria Hughes, an employee at IHOP in Lakeland, Florida, has been working there since 2013. She has always had a compassion for people facing difficulties. One day in November, Hughes encountered a homeless man who entered the restaurant and expressed his hunger to her. Without hesitation, she swiftly went to the kitchen and returned with a generous serving of pancakes and a refreshing glass of water for the hungry visitor. Unfortunately, this selfless act resulted in her losing her job after she informed the manager about her good deed.
The manager was deeply disturbed by the server’s actions, particularly when the homeless man came back accompanied by a family who wanted to buy him a meal. According to Hughes, the manager explained that the reason for their upset was the potential for loitering or safety issues for customers.
Hughes found the manager’s response perplexing because she believed she had acted appropriately and had promptly informed her supervisor, thereby avoiding any deceit. However, despite her 13 years of service, she was unexpectedly terminated just a few weeks before Christmas. Fortunately, IHOP reached out to her and extended an invitation to return to work. In addition, the company reimbursed her for the days she was temporarily unemployed.
After Hughes’s appearance on the news regarding the incident, IHOP has made a significant shift in its stance. The company has taken steps to update its policies and trainings in order to address the issue of local food insecurity. Dan Enea, an IHOP franchisee from Sunshine Restaurant Partners, acknowledged that the incident was thoroughly investigated and it led to a policy change. As a result, IHOP has implemented additional training for its employees to better serve food insecure patrons.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to support those in need within our local community, we will continue to address food insecurity through our partnership with Feeding America and by making a donation to local Lakeland charities that also support this important cause,” Enea tells USA Today in the statement.
During the period between losing her job and being offered it back, the server took the initiative to create a GoFundMe page to support herself during the holiday season. Although the job offer still stands, the former server remains uncertain about accepting it at this point. Hughes is carefully weighing her options, understanding that being fired for an act of kindness may raise concerns about potential future issues. However, the exact reasons behind her decision-making process are not entirely clear.
““I need my job, but I would still do it again,” she told WFLA. “I truly would. I would still help somebody if I could. If he asked me for my shirt, I probably would have tried to give him that too.”