The Buffalo News reports that a total of seven overnight employees at the Cheektowaga, NY Target store were fired for purchasing Zhu Zhu Pets at the end of their shifts. In a statement to the paper, Target claims that its policy forbidding employees from buying hot items before store opening time was made clear to employees–a claim that the seven now-former employees deny.

[Eight-year Target employee David] Lawrinowicz said he was called into the human resources office and told employees were not allowed to purchase “popular items” until the store opens at 8 a.m. There was no write-up, and he went back to finish his work.

Two weeks later, he and the other co-workers including his team leader were called in and fired by a choked-up, apologetic store manager. They were told the company’s policy about buying “two-day ad items” had been clearly posted in a sign over the employee time clock.

“There was no such thing. I look in that spot every day when I punch out and there was nothing there,” said Lawrinowicz.

From the article, it sounds like an order came down from corporate to make an example of the seven employees.

Target fires 7 workers for buying Zhu Zhus [Buffalo News] (Thanks, Karrie!)

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