Does Hard Rock’s Pinktober have a face?
Yes. Mine.
My name is Petya Petrova
In 2010, my husband Jordan and I received job offers from the Casino Manager at the Hard Rock Punta Cana Casino, in the Dominican Republic. I was a pit manager and Jordan was promoted to casino shift manager.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012. My treatment involved a mastectomy, 28 radiation therapies and 6 chemotherapies. Every morning, I wore my Hard Rock Pinktober Guitar pin on my blouse and felt excited about healing and returning to work.
After several months back on the job, I was fired on October 4, 2013, a special month for women who have survived breast cancer. The Hard Rock Casino General Manager and his Human Resource Manager offered me an inaccurate severance, which shortchanged me according to the labor laws of the country.
After filing a lawsuit in the Dominican labor court against the casino company and Hard Rock, I traveled 36 hours, from Bulgaria, to attend the hearing so that everyone present could put a face to my name.
The judge ruled in my favor, validating my claim. My appeal has now been filed for damages. I have medical affidavits to prove this process has taken a toll on my health. Apparently, the company's support of Pink October does not include standing by one of its own employees in her efforts to beat breast cancer and return to a productive life.
Corporations have a moral responsibility towards their employees. Behind the iconic Hard Rock guitar, there's a whole bunch of people....employees like me.
I hope women everywhere will hear my story and remind companies like Hard Rock that we are real people, not marketing tools in a hollow "pinktober" ad campaign.
Sofia, Bulgaria
