Baltimore Dunkin' Donuts Offers Free Coffee to Anyone Reporting Workers ‘Shouting’ in Foreign Languages
A Dunkin' Donuts franchise in Baltimore landed in hot water after the manager posted a sign offering a free coffee and pastry to customers who reported employees "shouting in a language other than English."
The sign was seen Monday morning and was photographed and posted on social media, where it was denounced as racist and xenophobic.
Calls to the store on 41st Street went directly to a recording that didn't accept messages.
The chain's corporate headquarters issued a statement saying the franchise owner "informed us the sign was posted by their general manager based on her own personal judgment" to create a "hospitable environment for all our guests."
The franchisee "determined her approach was inappropriate and confirmed the sign has been removed," the statement concluded.
This sign is being displayed at a @dunkindonuts in Baltimore. General manager posted a sign asking customers to report employees not speaking English. Even offering a reward. #shocking pic.twitter.com/1kUr0lcYuY
— Gillian Morley (@GillianMorley_) June 18, 2018
The phone number listed on the flier went to voicemail, where a recording indicated the mailbox was full.
On Twitter, many blasted the sign. "It is most certainly shocking," wrote Sarah Crespo. "If there are no consequences toward this racist manager I will most certainly be boycotting!! Removing the sign is not enough!!"
James Doyle wrote, "The Dunkin' Donuts franchise out my way is run by folks for whom English is a second language and they are fantastic in every possible way, and their store is great, and certain 'hateful' people still complain about them being slow, or not hiring enough 'locals.' All untrue."
Not everyone disliked the notice.
"Good for the manager," Bob Bobbington wrote. "It's HIS business and HIS customers speak English for the most part. HIS employees obviously have made a game of shouting things (probably inside jokes) in foreign languages and he's trying to stop it. So what? U want another language, go to another country."
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