'[I] got fired over chicken nuggets': Conniving coworker spies on employee who snuck food to customers

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 11, 2023 3:00 PM EST

A nosy colleague got this fast food worker booted from their job. The unfortunate worker shared their story with r/TIFU, home of stories of all kinds of eff ups. As they write, they used to work at a fast food joint, where they served all kinds of customers, including an older couple who came in with their granddaughter. As they became regulars, the OP began to feel bad for them — the couple always let their grandkid eat, without ever having food for themselves. 

The way the OP decided to help this family was hotly contested in the comments. Some people praised the OP's noble cause, while others noted that they were definitely stealing. 

Next up, this guy took a trip to a local watering hole, only to find "entitled influencers" had taken over the spot. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/tifu Posted by u/Throwtifu687304 18 hours ago TIFU and got fired over chicken nuggets. M I work or rather worked at a fast food place. A little over two weeks ago on a quiet evening at work, an old couple came in with who I assumed to be their granddaughter. They were all wearing matching knitted sweaters, and I remember thinking just how adorable they looked. They deliberated for a bit while counting the money that they had then the old man ordered a kid's meal. I took their order and
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 02
    Font - I gave him his order and he thanked me. They went to sit down not far from my station and he handed the meal to the child. She offered to share her meal but they encouraged her to finish her food by herself. They reassured her that they were not that hungry. They seemed to be content just watching her eat.She finished and they left.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 03
    Font - I felt bad for them and looked over at my colleague who also witnessed this, and he just shrugged. The following day, they came again and ordered the same thing. I told them that they could take a sit and I'd bring the order to them. When no one was looking, I instead secretly used a bigger box and filled it to the brim with nuggets and fries.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 04
    Font - I think it's important to point out that we are NOT allowed to do this. People have gotten fired before for giving their friends more food but I did it anyway. I brought the order to them and they were surprised to see the size of the meal compared to yesterdays. I gave them a knowing look and a smile and they thanked me. I was just pleased to see them all eating. This went on for two weeks although they did not come in everyday but I still gave them the extras whenever they would come. O
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 05
    Font - They wanted to thank me for helping them through a challenging couple of days. They appreciated the extra food that I gave them because aside from the kid eating at school, that was everyone's only meal for the day. On the bright side they were finally able to receive much needed resources so they wanted to let me know that they won't be coming in anymore. We laughed over the fact that they actually don't like fast food.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 06
    Font - I told them that I'm glad that I was able to help a bit and wished them well. When I turned around, my colleague was there but he didn't say anything and neither did I. Yesterday my manager wanted to speak to me. He told me that he got a tip off that I have been stealing from the store and giving my friends extra orders. The camera footage spoke for itself and there was also a witness.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 07
    Font - The same colleague who shrugged when that family first came in, it seemed that he was spying on me. Funny thing is he and I both applied for the same position in the store and were waiting to hear who got it. I guess he wanted to eliminate competition which worked because I got fired just in time for my birthday. TL:DR I gave an old couple extras on their order for two whole weeks and I got fired for it.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 08
    Font - theberrybird 16 hr. ago This is why I NEVER trust coworkers anymore. I used to keep thinking that if I just got the RIGHT job, then the RIGHT coworkers would come with it. I did that for 15 years of my working life and have learned just recently that you're always being spied on. If you can, don't let yourself become jaded. You did a good thing for those people. The right thing, in fact. You helped those people survive, and compared to the cost of corporate profits, that's zero- sum, my m
    via u/theberrybird
  • 09
    Font - JamesyUK30 8 hr. ago Hyeh to that. I like many of my Coworkers and consider many of them friend adjacent, but you know if you left the company 99% of them you wouldn't hear a word from again. For that reason I never share much more than surface details of my life and never share my opinions of other people or reciprocate when someone tries to bait me into a conversation about it. No Drama, No thanks.
    via u/JamesyUK30
  • 10
    Font - • 17 hr. ago nightowl_i This isnt a f up, this is wholesome. F greedy corporate policies. Salute to you, kindness goes a long way, you stay the same, we need more people like you. Karma will get that snitch's a someday
    via u/nightowl_i
  • 11
    Human body - Throwtifu687304 OP 17 hr. ago Thank you. I really hope that the position is worth it for him.
    via u/Throwtifu687304
  • 12

    While there were many people who found this situation heartwarming, others did NOT.

    Font - UserDev 2 hr. ago It's theft. Reddit never fails to show its idiocy.
    via u/UserDev

    As several folks wrote, this was theft. It's also easy to see from a restaurant's point of view why this practice couldn't stand — if they're selling food, they can't necessarily just give food away for free all day. 

  • 13
    Font - JetsetCat +2 17 hr. ago 617 . If I was your boss, I would have at least given you the opportunity to pay for the extra food, but maybe let you off with a friendly warning. Reply Share Throwtifu687304 OP 16 hr. ago . I wish so too but sadly he wasn't that kind of person
    via u/JetsetCat
  • 14
    Font - CrystalQueen3000 +2. 18 hr. ago That wasn't a f up, that was human decency and compassion. Sucks you got fired 701 Reply Share Throwtifu687304 OP 17 hr. ago I just felt so bad for them. I know what it's like to not have enough to eat. I would have bought the food if I was able to.
    via u/CrystalQueen3000
  • 15
    Font - djfolo 16 hr. ago Unfortunately that's how corporations function and colleagues are NOT your friends. You can be friendly, h some may become friends over time. I'm still friends with people I worked with 10 years ago. But almost exactly like you said, he found an easy way to eliminate the competition and ran with it regardless of why you did what you did. I mean it's kind of a FU, but I do think you did the right thing. Sadly, usually, workplaces don't care if you did the right thing if i
    via u/djfolo
  • 16
    Font - yern324 18 hr. ago Well obviously losing the job sucks, but you did a very good deed. Sending positive vibes in your job search, but know that you did the right thing and don't let this outcome change that about you. Good karma will come your way! Reply Share 132 Throwtifu687304 OP 16 hr. ago I will not let this experience stop me from being kind. Fingers crossed I get one soon!
    via u/yern324
  • 17
    Font - Reader-xx 16 hr. ago I own a restaurant. Getting fired for this is wrong on 2 levels. 1. Your manager should have a process whereby you can take care of people in this situation. We feed people for free often and my employees are empowered to make these decisions when I'm not there as long as they text me. 2. Firing you for caring about customers and building long term relationships with them is just wrong on a lot of levels.
    via u/Reader-xx
  • 18
    Font - DropDeadPlease88 +1 14 hr. ago Why is a family who is struggling financially getting take out!? Kudos to you for being a good guy but yeah that's just bizarre to me.
    via u/DropDeadPlease88
  • 19
    Font - Ghostoo 8 hr. ago The value of what you have done for that family outweighs that deadend job 100:1. You can be proud of yourself, I surely am of you internet stranger.
    via u/Ghostoo
  • 20
    Font - ForbiddenAngel3 15 hr. ago Tbf, you should pay for it and give them extra .... 10 Reply Share StiffKun 15 hr. ago This. Thought the same.
    via u/ForbiddenAngel3
  • 21
    Font - Blackadder288 10 hr. ago I've worked in the restaurant industry for a decade. If you want to do this, do it with your own money. What you did was literally theft, although I know you had good intentions.
    via u/Blackadder288

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workplace-stories work stories restaurant tifu family fast food chicken nuggets
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