Usha Ram’s Fifty-Cent Firing

In Vancouver, Burger King cook Usha Ram, who had worked there for 24 years, was fired after she took home a fish sandwich, fries, and an orange soda in 2013, believing her manager had allowed her a full meal because she had forgotten her wallet. Janif Mohammed, the franchise owner, asserted that she was only granted permission for a sandwich, and viewed the additional fries and drink, valued at approximately 50 cents after the employee discount, as theft under the company's zero tolerance policy. In 2017, a B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled that Ram had no intent to steal, called the dismissal a disproportionate response to a misunderstanding, and awarded her about $46,000 in lost wages and aggravated damages.

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