A Kermit, West Va. Pizza Hut district manager has been let go and his former place of employment closed after a viral internet video shows him urinating in the same sink where silverware and additional food making and eating tools are cleaned at the restaurant USA Today reported Wednesday.
The employee urinates three times into the sink in between short trips to a desktop computer screen and keyboard situated on the counter in the restaurant's back room in the video, which surfaced Tuesday.
"First of all, we are embarrassed by the actions of this individual," Pizza Hut said in a statement. "Pizza Hut has zero tolerance for violations of our operating standards, and the local owner of the restaurant took immediate action and terminated the employee involved."
"The incident, which occurred during non-business hours, did not include any food tampering. We follow strict safety and handling procedures and the restaurant has since been closed. We apologize to our customers of Kermit, West Virginia, and those in our system who have been let down by this situation," Pizza Hut said in the statement.
The Pizza Hut location was not open for business Tuesday, and is expected to remain that way until it is cleansed entirely, and the health department gives it the ok to resume operations according to spokesman Doug Terfehr USA Today reported.
"It may be that local media tends to gravitate to this kind of sensationalistic story involving big-named fast food establishments," Peter Himler, a public relations professional told USA Today. "(Pizza Hut needs) to make a forceful case that this is an isolated incident that does not reflect on the company's culture or workplace procedures."
"I doubt this will have a long-term negative affect on Pizza Hut's reputation. Blaring headlines today usually fade quickly into the rear view mirror by tomorrow," Himler told USA Today.
