Tim Hortons Fires Employee For Giving Free Doughnut to Child

Canadian doughnut and coffee chain Tim Hortons fired a single mother when she gave a free doughnut hole (known at the chain as TimBits) to the child of a frequent customer.

27-year-old single mother Nicole Lilliman of Ontario told the Canadian Press that TimBits are frequently handed out free to dogs or young children. However, three managers approached Lilliman after her shift on Wednesday, saying that she had been caught on the store’s video surveillance system giving free food to a child.

At first, Lilliman believed she was being given a warning, not being fired for theft. She had worked at the store for three years.

After a media firestorm of complaints against the chain, Tim Hortons responded with the following statement:

Unfortunately the action of the manager of this location was not appropriate, nor grounds for dismissal. With an apology from management, Ms. Lilliman has been rehired by the franchisee.

Lilliman has decided to return to work, however at a different location than where she was originally employed.