McDonald's unfairly dismissed worker for giving a colleague free cheese, says Dutch c

[the-nihilist]

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/McDonald...Latest+News%29

A court in the Netherlands ruled yesterday that the fast-food company McDonald's over-reacted in dismissing an employee who added a piece of cheese to a colleague's hamburger without charging for it. McDonalds has been ordered to pay compensation since, the court ruled, "The cost of a slice of cheese is not comparable to a severe step such as redundancy".

In March 2009, a waitress in Lemmer sold a hamburger to a colleague, and then added some cheese when her colleague asked for some. McDonald's said that this made the meal a cheeseburger, not a hamburger, and so she was sacked for not charging extra for the cheese. Rules for staff, the company argued, prevented them from giving food away for free.

Now a court in Leeuwarden has ordered McDonald's to pay her more than €4,200 (about US$5,900 or £3,700), since it decided that a written warning would have been a more appropriate reaction. The compensation is for five months of lost earnings, with holiday pay and interest.

The court noted that the manager of the branch had not asked the employee for an explanation before firing her, nor had McDonald's considered taking action against the colleague who asked for the cheese. "The dismissal was too severe a measure. It is just a slice of cheese," said the court.

[Ben Lahnger]

The principal of the court ruling sounds right, but just as the original termination may have been heavy handed, I have to wonder if the judgment wasn't a little overboard too. Maybe my view is constrained by having spent 10 years working in Texas which is an "at will" work state. Here they can basically let you go after 5 years of employment because they don't like the color of your shirt, and they are within their legal right to do so. Your recourse here is to file for unemployment (which you are almost always going to get.)

Not sure what the law is like there, but the original over-reaction sure does look bad.

[Crying_Crimson_Tears]

The judgment sounded fair to me, if it was indeed all the money the worker had lost during her unemployment period.

[Still Jack]

It's Mc Donalds, this doesn't surprise me.

[Solumina]

I agree that the girl deserves some compensation but five months seems to be a bit much, then again I also live in a right to work state so that may be coloring my view a bit.

[Despanan]

Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Saya]

I'm still outraged at the civil trial where the girl who was strip searched by her employer and sexually assaulted sued McDonald's and they said it was her own fault for not running away, this does not surprise me one bit.

Add "might get fired over a slice of cheese" to the list of reasons not to work at a McDonald's.

[Cosmicgaunt]

As if it can even be considered cheese.

[Still Jack]

Originally Posted by Cosmicgaunt

As if it can even be considered cheese.

This.short

[Renatus]

Actually by law it cant be called cheese due to the low cheese content, but the law doesnt say that you cant call the thing that it is in a cheese burger, thats how they get you.

[Still Jack]

Best cheeseburger I ever had was in Avignon and they put a slice of roquefort on it, it was godly.

[Renatus]

Originally Posted by Still Jack

Best cheeseburger I ever had was in Avignon and they put a slice of roquefort on it, it was godly.

Sounds like a place to visit.

[Lochnar]

Originally Posted by Saya

Add "might get fired over a slice of cheese" to the list of reasons not to work at a McDonald's.

Add it to the list of reasons not to buy their poor excuse for food.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Renatus

Actually by law it cant be called cheese due to the low cheese content, but the law doesnt say that you cant call the thing that it is in a cheese burger, thats how they get you.

Yeah. That's why they call it cheese.

Why do you say stupid things Renatus? Do you hate me? Is that it?

[Renatus]

Originally Posted by Despanan

Yeah. That's why they call it cheese.

Why do you say stupid things Renatus? Do you hate me? Is that it?

I'll forget you said that, but no cookie for you today.

This link is directly from the FDA

[Lochnar]

And so, according to the FDA, it's not correct to label the product :

"Pasteurized Process American Cheese Burger"

One has to give equal promidents to all the words and label it :

"Pasteurized Process American Cheese Burger"

The FDA really wants to protect us eh?

[the-nihilist]

No. They just do as they're told, fulfilling the bare minimum required to maintain their employment like the rest of us.

[Lochnar]

Originally Posted by the-nihilist

No. They just do as they're told, fulfilling the bare minimum required to maintain their employment like the rest of us.

I take pride in what I do OR I don't do it so, be so kind as to not lump me in with your group of fail boat captains. I demand better because I give it. Thanks

[the-nihilist]

You will receive the bare minimum necessary to convince you that you're getting just compensation for your efforts in order to maintain your continued employment.

[Despanan]

What is it with you people and assuming everything and everyone is out to fuck you raw?

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Renatus

I'll forget you said that, but no cookie for you today.

This link is directly from the FDA

I don't get it, It is very clearly cheese, which McDonalds uses

[Lochnar]

Originally Posted by the-nihilist

You will receive the bare minimum necessary to convince you that you're getting just compensation for your efforts in order to maintain your continued employment.

I'm not hung up on money and material things, like some people. Just because you look to justify your shitty work (that you must hate) by whining "they don't pay enough anyway" don't think there aren't some people, like myself, that truly enjoy what they make their living doing.

[Still Jack]

Originally Posted by Despanan

What is it with you people and assuming everything and everyone is out to fuck you raw?

It's Mc.Donalds for fucks sake. They didn't all rich and shit by being warm, fuzzy and giving away free meals to the homeless.

[Despanan]

Originally Posted by Still Jack

It's Mc.Donalds for fucks sake. They didn't all rich and shit by being warm, fuzzy and giving away free meals to the homeless.

No, they got there by selling cheap meals to the homeless. (Also, what about the Ronald McDonald House Charities)

none the less, it's not like you're buying burgers from Umbrella.

[Wednesday Friday Addams]

Umbrella is just misunderstood...
Don't make us sue you!