Fired over a cookie: a Ford employee’s story
Careers don’t usually end over a trifle worth less than two dollars. However, for Kurt Kromm, a 60-year-old veteran of the Ford plant in Louisville, Kentucky, this very thing led to his dismissal. The man had worked at the plant, which produces Super Duty, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator models, for 11 years. The plant employs over 8,000 workers and generated $25 billion in revenue for the company in 2023.
The incident occurred on May 9 at 3:30 AM during a 12-hour shift. Kromm, who has diabetes, felt dizzy due to low blood sugar and decided to buy a Grandma’s chocolate cookie for $1.95 from the factory kiosk. When he swiped his debit card, the terminal showed a transaction error, so the man moved to another machine and successfully paid for the purchase. Surveillance cameras captured a red screen instead of a green confirmation, which, according to Kromm, prompted him to switch devices.
“I earned over $200,000 last year. Why would I steal? I spent $1,200 in the cafeteria last year, mostly on Diet Coke,” explained Kromm, who suffers from diabetes.
Fired a week later
Seven days later, Kromm was called into the manager’s office and told he was being fired for non-payment. The company cited surveillance camera footage that allegedly proved the theft. The man was immediately escorted off the plant premises, forbidden from taking his tools, and his personal laptop was only returned from his desk. A UAW union representative advised him to apologize, claiming it would speed up his return to work, but Kromm refused, insisting on his innocence.
“I thought: is this how my career at Ford ends? No way I’m going back. First, they called me a thief, then a liar. They were so sure I stole. And then I look at my bank statement — and there it is, that $1.95,” Kromm told Shifting Gears.
Reinstatement, but too late
Kromm sent Ford and his union representative screenshots from the bank confirming the payment. Two weeks later, the union informed him that the company required notarized statements. Subsequently, the kiosk operator, Aramark, confirmed to Ford on June 12 that the payment had been made, and Kromm was allowed to return to work.
However, it was too late. The man found a new job with a pay raise: from $48 an hour at Ford to $52.51 plus a $10-an-hour bonus. The new position was closer to home, and the start date fell on the day after Memorial Day. During the five weeks of forced downtime, Kromm received over $28,000 in compensation, although the union had promised $33,000.
Company reactions
Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch stated: “We value our employees and want to be as fair as possible.” Chris Collom from Aramark added that the company “fully cooperates with investigations of this nature,” focusing on providing snacks for customers.
Kromm’s colleague, electrician Victoria Thomas, who worked at Ford for 34 years, confirmed that kiosk malfunctions are a common problem. She noted: “I have friends who were fired over buying a $2 drink. Kurt was the only one who had documentary proof and fought for justice.”
This story raises questions about zero-tolerance theft policies at large enterprises. While companies have the right to protect their property, instances of technical glitches, such as faulty payment terminals, can lead to unfair dismissals. In this case, the employee was able to prove his innocence thanks to bank documents, but not everyone has that opportunity. The situation also demonstrates how automated systems without proper oversight can create serious problems for people, even in the absence of malicious intent.