Young Mom Claims McDonald's Fired Her for Paying Firefighters' Tab

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

A young, single mother in upstate New York was fired from her job at McDonald's. She says it's because she paid the tab for some local firefighters.

When firefighters in Olean placed an order for 25 breakfast sandwiches last week, Heather Levia said she picked up the $83 tab as a "thank you" to the first responders for working in subzero temperatures.

When another department ordered $70 worth of food later on, she asked her boss if the restaurant would pay for it. Her boss said no, so Levia asked the corporate office and got the same answer. Levia paid that bill too.

She argues that it's very common for the eatery to give free food to cops who come in.

When some of the firefighters found out that the 23-year-old Levia - who has twins and works two jobs so she can go to nursing school - had paid for their food, they called her boss to complain.

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/02/20/young-mom-claims-ny-mcdonalds-fired-her-paying-firefighters-meals

[JohnR! 5,495]

IMHO they should have returned to the restaurant and paid their bill. However well intentioned, it was not her call to make, nor theirs to complain. Having said that if I were the restaurant owner this person would have been promoted.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

IMHO they should have returned to the restaurant and paid their bill. However well intentioned, it was not her call to make, nor theirs to complain. Having said that if I were the restaurant owner this person would have been promoted.

So you don't think she has the right to spend her own money to buy food for whomever she pleases?

or

Am I misreading you?

A young, single mother in upstate New York was fired from her job at McDonald's. She says it's because she paid the tab for some local firefighters.

When firefighters in Olean placed an order for 25 breakfast sandwiches last week, Heather Levia said she picked up the $83 tab as a "thank you" to the first responders for working in subzero temperatures.

When another department ordered $70 worth of food later on, she asked her boss if the restaurant would pay for it. Her boss said no, so Levia asked the corporate office and got the same answer. Levia paid that bill too.

She argues that it's very common for the eatery to give free food to cops who come in.

When some of the firefighters found out that the 23-year-old Levia - who has twins and works two jobs so she can go to nursing school - had paid for their food, they called her boss to complain.

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2014/02/20/young-mom-claims-ny-mcdonalds-fired-her-paying-firefighters-meals

There is more to this. Has to be.

P.S. if i was the store manager and I told you no, and you went over my head. I would be mad

Edited February 20, 2014 by The Nature Boy

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't for one minute believe that was the reason she was fired. She believes it was but that's not the same thing.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I don't for one minute believe that was the reason she was fired. She believes it was but that's not the same thing.

Kinda like some of the the things you believe but don't really know all the details?

[Peikko 1,575]

Kinda like some of the the things you believe but don't really know all the details?

It does not make sense. McDonalds say she swore at her supervisor. That does.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

It does not make sense. McDonalds say she swore at her supervisor. That does.

She admitted she said this is" freaking" ridiculous, but it wasn't implied to anybody. I can easily see someone saying this. But did she deserve to get canned over it?

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

In doing some more digging, there were 2 other co-workers that chipped in to pay also, that were not fired

Being an expert in deciphering the drive by Media let me tell you all what really happened. INMHO

Little Momma has the hots for the local Fire crew. I am guessing she has helped them dry their hoses more than a few times. Anyway She get's the idea to buy them all their food, and gets a couple of other hoochies to chip in..I am sure she is dying to land a firefighter. No problem yet.

The second time, the other two say they can't afford it. So she goes to the boss, and begs him to buy all their food. The Boss refuses.( You can understand they can't start buying Firefighters food every time they come, because then it would be police, then soldiers, etc. I am sure they already get a discount). I will bet you 10-1 this girl is already a pain in the butt and is all over any decent available male coming in the door.

So when the manager tells her no, she causes a scene, probably in front of other employees and maybe a customer or two. and calls the franchise office and starts going ballistic about the manager, after she was told not to. When they said no, she let all the firefighters know, just how crappy McDonald's was and how much she really loved them and was on her side. When the manager tried to consul her about it she went balastic again, cussing and making a scene. At that point the company cut it's losses and let her go.

Nothing to do with buying someone food, and everything to do with not following directions, insubordination, and disrupting good community relations.She runs to the drive by press, who eats it up. Of course McDonalds can not divulge the details.

Bet I am dead on.

[Peikko 1,575]

She admitted she said this is" freaking" ridiculous, but it wasn't implied to anybody. I can easily see someone saying this. But did she deserve to get canned over it?

As an employee, you can't tell your boss when and how they should hand out freebies. If on top of that you tell you boss that their decision sucks you can expect to be fired. She was not fired for paying the firefighters tab, she was fired for insubordination. One makes sense whether you agree with McDonald's or not, the other simply makes no sense, period.

In doing some more digging, there were 2 other co-workers that chipped in to pay also, that were not fired

Being an expert in deciphering the drive by Media let me tell you all what really happened. INMHO

Little Momma has the hots for the local Fire crew. I am guessing she has helped them dry their hoses more than a few times. Anyway She get's the idea to buy them all their food, and gets a couple of other hoochies to chip in..I am sure she is dying to land a firefighter. No problem yet.

The second time, the other two say they can't afford it. So she goes to the boss, and begs him to buy all their food. The Boss refuses.( You can understand they can't start buying Firefighters food every time they come, because then it would be police, then soldiers, etc. I am sure they already get a discount). I will bet you 10-1 this girl is already a pain in the butt and is all over any decent available male coming in the door.

So when the manager tells her no, she causes a scene, probably in front of other employees and maybe a customer or two. and calls the franchise office and starts going ballistic about the manager, after she was told not to. When they said no, she let all the firefighters know, just how crappy McDonald's was and how much she really loved them and was on her side. When the manager tried to consul her about it she went balastic again, cussing and making a scene. At that point the company cut it's losses and let her go.

Nothing to do with buying someone food, and everything to do with not following directions, insubordination, and disrupting good community relations.She runs to the drive by press, who eats it up. Of course McDonalds can not divulge the details.

Bet I am dead on.

Flamboyant imagination you have there.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

As an employee, you can't tell your boss when and how they should hand out freebies. If on top of that you tell you boss that their decision sucks you can expect to be fired. She was not fired for paying the firefighters tab, she was fired for insubordination. One makes sense whether you agree with McDonald's or not, the other simply makes no sense, period.

According to the report, she asked her boss if he would pay and when he said no, she called corporate. That's a stretch for insubordination in my neck of the woods. These big companies are always getting bad press for canning people for dumb reasons. If one of my employees told me that something was ridiculous, I'd ask them why and then explain my reasoning.for the decision I made. If it ended at that, no hard feelings and carry on. If it was a heated blowout argument, it might be a different result, but I have never fired anyone out of revenge, or to teach them a lesson.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

According to the report, she asked her boss if he would pay and when he said no, she called corporate. That's a stretch for insubordination in my neck of the woods. These big companies are always getting bad press for canning people for dumb reasons. If one of my employees told me that something was ridiculous, I'd ask them why and then explain my reasoning.for the decision I made. If it ended at that, no hard feelings and carry on. If it was a heated blowout argument, it might be a different result, but I have never fired anyone out of revenge, or to teach them a lesson.

Then why no action on the other two. I bet my scenario is close. She looks swarthy

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Then why no action on the other two. I bet my scenario is close. She looks swarthy

Maybe the other two weren't washing the hoses.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Kinda like some of the the things you believe but don't really know all the details?

Kinda like... EXACTLY like that.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

No matter how much you pervs try to slyly denigrate her, there is nothing wrong with liking four inch hoses...

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Maybe those of you judging this woman should read this slightly different version of the story.

A 23-year-old single mother of two in Olean, NY, claims she was fired on Valentine's Day from her job at McDonald's because she and two co-workers treated some firefighters to food out of their own pockets, according to the Olean Times Herald.

The firefighters had been fighting a house fire since 3:35am. Heather Levia says that she and the co-workers had responded to a request from The Salvation Army. When she was told by superiors that the company would not make a donation, she provided $150 in food that the three paid for.

A local Salvation Army official told the Times Herald that the organization typically sends an emergency disaster vehicle when first responders will be on a scene for a long time. The vehicle brings food, water, and blankets for both first responders and victims. According to WIVB-TV, the firefighters had been working in sub-zero temperatures.

Levia first wrote about the event on Facebook:

WIVB-TV reported that some firefighters had initially called the McDonald's to complain, thinking that the company had forced the workers to pay for the food. According to an interview with Levia, her supervisor said, "You opened a whole bee's nest." She was allegedly fired during her next shift, accused of swearing at a supervisor.

I have been with the olean mcdonalds for almost eight years... Today I was terminated because local firefighters called for donations for food. The mcdonalds company denied the donations to help support our firefighters. Myself and two other employees paid out of pocket to feed these firemen.. asking the office before answering yes or no to these firemen. I was told I swore and Hung up on a office worker. Who would ever think that someone would lose their job for giving to those who risk their lives to save ours... Look for my letter to the editor in the olean times herald... There will be more on this story. <sic>

"I did say this is 'freaking' ridiculous," Levia said "But it was not implied to anybody."

Levia has twins, two jobs, and is putting herself through nursing school, according to WIVB.

According to the Times Herald story, Levia, who was the morning shift manager, said that although she had been fired, the other two employees had not.

The owner of the franchise, Tom Meyers, told the Times Herald that his company, the Meyers Organization, was "thoroughly investigating this matter and how it was handled." Someone from the company told the paper that the workers had been compensated for the $150. Meyers himself reportedly told WIVB that Levia's "allegations are absolutely not true."

Allegany Fire Media Officer Gordon Scott told WIVB: "It was a shock. We certainly regret the fact she lost her job."

"I was told I was being fired for going against the wishes of McDonald's as well has having my own opinion on not donating to the firefighters," she said. "I was so caught off-guard by this. I'm very distraught that I would be fired over something like this. I was just trying to give back to the firefighters and they weren't asking for much."

The owner of the franchise, Tom Meyers, told the Times Herald that his company, the Meyers Organization, was "thoroughly investigating this matter and how it was handled." Someone from the company told the paper that the workers had been compensated for the $150. Meyers himself reportedly told WIVB that Levia's "allegations are absolutely not true."

Allegany Fire Media Officer Gordon Scott told WIVB: "It was a shock. We certainly regret the fact she lost her job."

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2014/02/19/mcdonalds-worker-fired-olean-firefighters/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl31%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D444602

Edited February 21, 2014 by spookyturtle