UPDATE: Adam Handelsman, EVP of 5WPR who represents the Patina Group, tells TMZ this is completely untrue. Patina Group owns multiple restaurants in the L.A. market. The staff were told that if they wanted to work, they could pick up shifts at other restaurants. "The vast majority," says Adam, "simply took a couple days off."
Hunky Will Smith is currently filming "Hancock" with hottie Charlize Theron at swanky Los Angeles eatery, Cafe Pinot -- and it's putting the pinch on the staff -- big time. 
Our spies on set tell us that filming began on Monday and will conclude on Thursday, with the restaurant reopening Friday. And while the Patina Restaurant Group (home of celeb chef Joachim Splichal) is profiting from the location filming, all staff members at the restaurant have been told to stay home for the week -- with no pay! Not so tasty! The Fresh Prince of Bel Air would never treat his subjects like that!
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If the employees were smart they would allllll call in sick on the day it was supposed to reopen.. that would send the owners a message!!
I think that they can receive unemployment for that week but that is if they are legal residents. I think that stinks for people that live from paycheck to paycheck.
1 week can mess up everything. I don't see Will bailing them out.
It must be nice to have all that money and not care if you are hurting the little people.
We should just boycott the movie
That will learn them!
What the staff should do is come in on friday, and right before the dinner rush, everybody should just walk out leaving that punk bitch chief S-O-L. I did that at my old job and let me tell you, it was awesome.
Janice, how is Will or any actor responsible for the plight of these empoyees? The owner of the restaurant has an obligation to his workers not Will.
Is there somewhere we can visit online to petition this? Like the production company for this film???
I will NOT see this movie, based on these actions. The majority of society HAS to work, we don't get paid the salary of movie stars....ante up, Will Smith or production company, or you will lose fans!!!
#6.......Will is the star of the movie, which in turn he is making a profit for thier loss
How the hell can you not see that. He can stick for these employees, but he won't because it is all about money.
Call the Labor Board. That is soooooooooooo unfair. The Patina Group has just lost a good customer, I will never dine in your resturants again.
the owner is getting a pretty penny im sure, in a fair world he would share the wealth. but mama always told me "life is not fair"
It clearly says:
"And while the Patina Restaurant Group (home of celeb chef Joachim Splichal) is profiting from the location filming, all staff members at the restaurant have been told to stay home for the week -- with no pay!"
Obviously the Patina Restaurant Group is making money off filming at their location, but don't want to look out for their employees during that time. I think this is the restaurant's responsibility, not Will's. It is easy to hit on the movie star, but why should he be responsible? He did not hire the restaurant staff in the first place, nor did he tell the restaurant owners to make them go away for a week. If the Patina Group had any sense of fairness, they would use some of their "profits" to make sure their employees are treated fairly, and paid at least something while they were told to be gone.
I think it really stinks Will Smith makes bundles of money so he has enough to dish out to the employees of the restaurant.. It's not like he will be missing any of it? or hurting like some people would they have families to feed as well..
