A manager at a Pizza Hut restaurant in Florida threatened to punish employees who evacuated early for Hurricane Irma.

In a message addressed to all staff, the manager of the Jacksonville restaurant in northeast Florida said there would only be a 24-hour "grace period" before the storm hit.

"You cannot evacuate Friday for a Tuesday storm event," they said. "Failure to show for these shifts, regardless of reason, will be considered a no call/no show and documentation will be issued."

The notice added that employees were required to return to work 72 hours after the storm.

Pizza Hut said a local franchise operator had addressed the issue with the manager involved and told them they had contradicted company policy.

"We absolutely do not have a policy that dictates when team member can leave or return from a disaster, and the manager who posted this letter did not follow company guidelines," the restaurant chain said in a statement.

The mayor of Jacksonville Lenny Curry issued evacuation orders on Friday for residents in low-lying areas and in those living in mobile homes.

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