May 10, 2008
Tim Hortons' PR nightmare
On Wednesday, a Tim Hortons employee gave a timbit to the fussy toddler of a customer. The iconic donut chain was busy, and the child was crying, holding up the line and stressing out it's mother, no doubt. So Nicole Lilliman thought nothing of popping one of the little, bite-sized donut balls into the cranky kid's paws. The child nibbled away, the mother placed her order, and went on her merry way.
Later that day, however Lilliman was fired by her manager for the giveaway. Turns out that giving free food is contrary to Tim Hortons' policy. Lilliman, a single mother of four, was terminated immediately.
Trying to keep her job, she offered to pay the 16 cents that the tiny donut bite was worth. The timbits can be sold individually for that amount, or in boxes of 20 for about two dollars. But no, the boss wasn't having any of it, and Lilliman was canned.
That is, until the media got wind of the story. By Wednesday evening, Tim Hortons' managers were flustered themselves - yes, perhaps a timbit would have helped them relax. Wringing their hands and red-faced with apologies, Lilliman was rehired at Tim Hortons, effective immediately.
"It was the unfortunate action of one manager who unfortunately made an overzealous decision, and thankfully we were able to rectify the situation," said company spokeswoman Rachel Douglas.
Insult to injury? Day-old timbits are often given away to patrons' dogs. Double insult to injury: anyone who's bought a box of 20 or 40 timbits can attest that there is often at least one extra timbit thrown into the equation, free of charge.
Later that day, however Lilliman was fired by her manager for the giveaway. Turns out that giving free food is contrary to Tim Hortons' policy. Lilliman, a single mother of four, was terminated immediately.
Trying to keep her job, she offered to pay the 16 cents that the tiny donut bite was worth. The timbits can be sold individually for that amount, or in boxes of 20 for about two dollars. But no, the boss wasn't having any of it, and Lilliman was canned.
That is, until the media got wind of the story. By Wednesday evening, Tim Hortons' managers were flustered themselves - yes, perhaps a timbit would have helped them relax. Wringing their hands and red-faced with apologies, Lilliman was rehired at Tim Hortons, effective immediately.
"It was the unfortunate action of one manager who unfortunately made an overzealous decision, and thankfully we were able to rectify the situation," said company spokeswoman Rachel Douglas.
Insult to injury? Day-old timbits are often given away to patrons' dogs. Double insult to injury: anyone who's bought a box of 20 or 40 timbits can attest that there is often at least one extra timbit thrown into the equation, free of charge.
// posted by VB @ 5/10/2008 
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