Hat Creek Burgers in Dripping Springs, Texas Reportedly Fires Employees for Participating in Immigration Protest | Eater Austin

"A family-friendly burger chain known for its hamburger-focused menu and large playgrounds for children became the site of a controversial enforcement action after employees planned to participate in a nationwide Day Without Immigrants protest on February 3. Management at the Dripping Springs location requested a list of staff who would miss the shift, initially told those workers they would not be paid for the day, and later offered a free meal and a $25 Amazon gift card to employees who came in. Ultimately eight employees were terminated, including assistant manager Francisco Perez, who says he did show up but was fired amid allegations he encouraged others to miss work (which he denies). Employee Gudelia Calderon says she was initially told she would be written up but that everyone who missed the day was fired. The company responded that the terminations resulted from deviations from its long-standing attendance policy, which requires advance notice of time off prior to schedule posting (generally about 10 days in advance), and emphasized its commitment to supporting teams and respecting expression. The incident occurred against a broader backdrop of increased immigration enforcement and workplace insecurity for immigrant restaurant workers." - Courtney E. Smith