A staff member at Neil Perry’s Burger Project restaurant has been sacked over a racial slur typed on a customer’s receipt.
Melbourne man Nicholas Muchinguri was issued the offensive docket on Friday when he ordered lunch with a group friends at the chain’s Melbourne outlet.
It read, “Order #16 n****s”.
In an open letter to Burger Project, Muchinguri’s wife, Rutendo, demanded action over the “disgracefully discriminatory treatment” received by her “hard working black husband”.
“It’s exhausting that in 2017, in a modern and multicultural society some of your staff remain insensitive to the impact that this insidiously nasty and vile word has,” she wrote.
“Come on, you can do better. This is NOT OK.”
Burger Project, which is one of the many businesses owned by celebrity chef Neil Perry's Rockpool Dining Group, issued a statement on Facebook in which it apologised "profusely" for the "upset and hurt" caused by the staff member, whose position was terminated.
"We have a clear policy of respect and care for our customers, staff and community. We do not condone this kind of behaviour from our staff, or accept this treatment of our customers," the statement read.
Top Comments
Holy shit, that is outrageous! I never would have expected that in Melbourne! I know Australians are often racist, but I guess it's easy not to realise exactly how racist you are when you're white (like I am).
I would be furious and so offended if someone wrote this on my receipt. It's a horrible word and should never be used. I'm mixed raced and my skin is brown. At university (the well and truly hyped USYD) a fellow student called me this word after I answered a question in class. I was really hurt and offended that it was used against me for no reason in a derogatory manner. I hope the staff member has learnt his lesson.