It is rightly said that “No good deed goes unpunished”. At times, people with noble intentions are destined to fail miserably.
A similar story happened to a McDonald’s manager in USA, who had been serving the restaurant for 8 years but got sacked just because she offered free breakfast to a bunch of hardworking firefighters.
The 23 year old and a single mom to twins, Heather Levia from Olean, New York treated the firefighters from her own pocket, for the emergency respondents had been fighting a deadly house fire in freezing temperature since 3 in the morning.
Having a heart of gold, Heather wanted to honor the firemen with a warm meal and thus paid an $83 bill for 25 breakfast sandwiches and hash browns.
“Just because I appreciate everything they do,” said the kind hearted Heather.
Later that day, another department walked in the fast food joint and ordered a meal that amounted to $70.
Eager to help them as well, the ex-McDonald’s worker asked her boss if the restaurant would pay for the order, as usually, police officers are treated with free food by the franchise.
“It’s very common in our store,” she said.
When Heather’s boss replied to her plea in negative, she next approached the corporate office. Sadly, even they refused to pay for the meal.
With no other option left, Levia along with her three co-workers paid the bill.
Trouble for the young lady started when some of the firefighters contacted her boss and complained that McDonald’s made the manager feel compelled to pay for them.
“You opened a whole bee’s nest,” scolded Levia’s boss.
But the next day, when she returned for her shift at the restaurant she was told that she has been fired due to an accusation for swearing at a superior.
“I did say this is ‘freaking’ ridiculous. But it was not implied to anybody,” Levia replied to this claim.
However, Allegany Firefighters were grateful for Heather’s tender gesture and were distressed to hear about her being dismissed from her job.
“It was a sad affair because a gentleman lost a home. And it’s even worse because we know now that this gal apparently lost her job because of It.” said Allegany Fire Media Officer Gordon Scott.
With no regrets at all, Heather Levia takes pride in helping those in need and has already been offered with a variety of jobs.
“It’s just wrong. I wish the communities would change and help each other out. I wish that things didn’t have to be the way they are. And if losing my job is going to speak out to the community, then that’s what it’s going to do.”
The case has caused much negative publicity for McDonald’s who have denied that Levia’s firing had no relation whatsoever with the payment of Firefighters’ bills.
“We would never penalize an employee for showing appropriate gratitude for the work of our firefighters,” commented the Franchise.
