Tech & Biz

Tempest over a Timbit

by Amy Judd | May 8, 2008 at 02:53 pm

613 views | 10 Recommendations | 7 comments

The Tim Hortons cashier who gave a Timbit to a fussy child and was fired for it, has been rehired today.
Seemed like a silly idea to fire someone over that anyway.

Nicole Lilliman, 27, said she was fired Wednesday for giving one of the 16-cent treats to a regular customer with a small child. Lilliman told the London Free Press she was confronted by three managers on Monday who told her she was caught on video giving away free food, thereby violating company policy.

"I was crying," she told the newspaper. "I was like, 'I'm a single mom with four kids and you are going to put this on my record? You should bring all the staff in here and fire them all and yourselves, too.' People give out Timbits to dogs in the drive-through all the time."

Company spokeswoman Rachel Douglas said Wednesday the company regretted the action and had rehired Lilliman.

"Unfortunately, the action of the manager of this location was not appropriate, nor grounds for dismissal," Douglas said in an e-mail. "With an apology from management, Ms. Lilliman has been rehired by the franchisee at another location."

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hfabulous

at 18:48 on May 8th, 2008

The majority of Canada's coffee culture is built on a foundation of double doubles and old-fashioned glazed.

hfabulous has contributed a photo to this story.

fightoffyourdemons--

at 20:59 on May 8th, 2008

I think it's ridiculous that she was fired over giving away one timbit, worth 16 cents....but then again, as another person stated, if she's giving away timbits what else is she giving away? I think a simple warning would've done the trick rather than being fired.

fightoffyourdemons-- has contributed a photo to this story.

cynthia yoo

at 22:37 on May 8th, 2008

A warning seems far more reasonable response.

Mikasi

at 04:38 on May 9th, 2008

Fricking penny wise-poind foolish corporate morons.

Management is stupid. Economics is the art of giving so that you may get. On the economic side, you give away a $0.16 timbit - whatever the hell that is - and you get customer appreciation and loyalty for it. On the human side you get a quiet, happy child (which, incidentally, gets you more customer appreciation from the other customers who don't have to listen to the screams) and have done your Christian duty for the day.

Imbeciles...

Jordan Yerman

at 07:01 on May 9th, 2008

By any measurement, firing someone over a doughnut hole is a managerial failure.

Supa.Meowsy.64

at 11:52 on May 9th, 2008

Yum... good to see that they were rehired.

Supa.Meowsy.64 has contributed a photo to this story.

Melizer (not verified)

at 18:32 on September 9th, 2008

Right, Mikasi. At least I'm glad to see most donut-shop management in my area knows is familiar with the concept.

This woman should have been made manager of the location and the moron that fired her should have been shown the door. It's usually a case of the manager letting a little bit of power go to their head and/or they're sleeping with the owner.