A proud mom’s post about her son and his friends caused all of them to lose their jobs.
Former Burger King manager Shakayla Dixon, of Clinton, Mississippi, took to Facebook to congratulate her 15-year-old son, Corderrion Valentine, and his friends in taking up jobs at her place of work.
Her post explained how her son helped get them a summer job which would keep them off the streets.
A proud mom and her son, along with his friends, have been fired from Burger King. (Michael Smith/Getty Images)
It read in part: “My boy put the whole team on. Summer canceled , they grinding. Work for it, it’ll last longer, you’ll appreciate it better.”
The four teens deservedly had their fair share of plaudits – including a visit to the mayor’s office who awarded them for sacrificing their summer to work.
In a statement, Alderman Thomas J. Mayfield office said: “A group of local teenagers from Vicksburg, including Fabian Moore, Corderrion Valentine, Devin Banks, and Felton Moore, decided to take a proactive approach to their summer.
“Rather than spending it idly, they secured jobs at a Burger King in Clinton, Mississippi.”
Corderrion Valentine picked up part-time jobs at the fast food chain. (Facebook/Work Fah Itt)
Speaking to WLBT, Dixon said: “I felt like it was a good thing because we could have really been out doing violence or shooting or killing, but we went out and worked.”
News of their endeavours soon spread online, with comedian Nick Cannon posting a picture of the boys on his Instagram.
The caption read: “Now this is the wave! Staying out of trouble, and getting the bag the right way! This is how it’s done kings.”
His post grossed more than 90,000 likes.
But while it seemed the entire population of the US was behind them, the fast-food joint called Dixon on 9 July to inform her of the decision to sack her son and his friends – named Devin, Felton and Fabian – as well as herself.
Shakayla Dixon and her son Corderrion Valentine on a shift when they worked at Burger King. (Facebook/Work Fah Itt)
“I got a call from my area manager and my district leader,” the mom explained.
“She said we don’t want to turn something good into something bad, but we have some concerns. The concerns she had were the fact that Corderrion is my son and how much money they were getting paid.”
She stated if the decision to axe all five of them was due to policy, that it was ‘overlooked’ at first as it was a ‘good look for the company’.
Dixon has since set up a GoFundMe to help cover her loss of earnings, as well as her son’s and his friends – which has over $10,000 in donations.
To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.
UNILAD has contacted Burger King for comment.