Ruby Tuesday is facing serious backlash after a former manager shared his story on social media. He claims the company fired him for closing his restaurant just one hour early on Christmas Day. The video about his firing has gone viral and triggered a huge customer backlash against the casual-dining chain.
According to Restaurant Business Online, the manager is Jeff Cook, who posted his story on TikTok. Cook worked at Ruby Tuesday for 19 years, starting as a server when he was 19 and working his way up to management. He said that during his nearly two decades with the company, he never missed a single day of work.
Cook explained why he closed early on Christmas Day. He and his small crew of three other workers were completely overwhelmed by huge demand for both dine-in and takeout orders. His location in Big Rapids, Michigan, was one of the only restaurants open that day, so they couldn’t handle the rush.
Firing a loyal employee over one hour sends the wrong message
Ruby Tuesday confirmed Cook’s firing and defended their decision in a statement to a trade publication. A spokesperson said the company was “proud to open more than 100 restaurants nationwide” for the holiday and successfully served thousands of families. The company stated that the Big Rapids location “unfortunately did not meet the high standards of operational excellence and guest hospitality that we require.”
Cook’s video immediately exploded online, getting more than 13 million views. Users flooded the company’s social media accounts with angry comments, and some even swore off the chain entirely. One person wrote, “Won’t be spending a cent until the damage done to Jeff is handled.” This isn’t the first time viral workplace firing incidents have sparked outrage.
@jeffcook10 Only up from here.
♬ original sound – Jeff Cook
The backlash comes at a bad time for the Maryville, Tennessee-based chain. Ruby Tuesday was founded in 1972 and serves American classics like burgers and ribs, but the company has struggled financially for years. The chain has only seen one year of sales growth in the U.S. since 2009.
The pandemic hit Ruby Tuesday especially hard. They filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 and closed more than half of their stores, dropping from 436 locations to 220. The chain ended 2024 with 212 restaurants and total annual sales of $288.4 million. Stories about employees losing jobs over controversial incidents have become increasingly common on social media.
Cook’s story has a happy ending. He quickly found a new job as a server at a different restaurant. After his video went viral, he received hundreds of job offers from all over the country and thanked his supporters for their support.
