Fired over a cookie: the story of a Ford employee
Usually, a career does not end over a trifle worth less than two dollars. However, according to Kurt Krom, this is exactly what led to his dismissal from the Ford plant in Louisville, Kentucky, where he had worked for 11 years.
Kurt Krom, 60, claims the company fired him for allegedly stealing a chocolate cookie from the cafeteria. The plant, which produces the Super Duty, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator models, employs over 8,000 people and generated $25 billion in revenue in 2023. Krom notes that in 2025, he worked an average of 60 hours per week, making the accusation even more absurd.
“I earned over $200,000 last year. Why would I steal? I spent $1,200 in the cafeteria, mostly on Diet Coke,” said Krom, who has diabetes.
The cookie he bought was a Grandma’s chocolate cookie, purchased after he felt dizzy due to low blood sugar.
The incident and the firing
The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on May 9, when Krom was working a 12-hour shift from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. He approached one of the payment kiosks and bought a cookie for $1.95. After swiping his debit card, the machine indicated the transaction did not go through, so he moved to another kiosk and paid there. Video from the kiosk later showed a red screen instead of a green checkmark confirming payment, which Krom says prompted him to switch machines.
A week later, Krom was called into the manager’s office and told he was being fired for non-payment, citing security camera footage. He was immediately escorted out, barred from retrieving his tools, and his personal laptop was removed from his desk. According to Krom, a UAW union representative urged him to apologize, claiming that those who do so are reinstated faster. He refused, confident he had paid, and stated that the zero-tolerance policy for theft had already cost five employees their jobs.
“I thought: is this how my career at Ford Motor ends? I’m not going back for anything. First, you call me a thief, and then a liar for saying I didn’t steal. They were so sure I had stolen. And then I look at my checking account statement, and there’s that $1.95,” he recounted.
Reinstatement and new opportunities
Krom sent screenshots of his bank statement to Ford and his UAW representative, which confirmed the transaction. Two weeks later, the union informed him that Ford required a notarized bank statement. According to Krom, the union also reported that the payment kiosk operator, Aramark, confirmed to Ford on June 12 that the payment for the cookie had been made. A few days later, Krom was allowed to return to work.
However, it was too late. Krom had already found another job with a raise: from $48 per hour at Ford to $52.51 per hour plus a $10 per hour bonus, starting the day after Memorial Day, and closer to home. He received over $28,000 in compensation for five weeks of lost wages, although the UAW had promised $33,000.
Journalists reached out to Ford for further details. Last week, Ford stated it would not discuss individual cases but acknowledged that “there are times when we review something and realize it could have been handled differently.” Company spokesperson Jessica Hinajo added: “We value our employees and want to be as fair as possible.” Chris Collom from Aramark noted that the company “fully cooperates with investigations of this nature,” focusing on snack options for customers.
Problems with the machines
Colleague Victoria Thomas, a 34-year-old Ford electrician, said that kiosk malfunctions are well-known and have happened to her personally. She noted: “I have friends who were fired for buying a $2 drink. Kurt was the only one who had documentation and fought back.”
This story highlights how rigid corporate policy can be, even when it comes to small amounts, and how important it is to have evidence to protect one’s reputation. It also shows that sometimes an unfair dismissal can lead to unexpected positive changes, such as a better job with higher pay. At the same time, the case raises questions about the effectiveness of internal investigations and communication between management, the union, and employees, especially when technical glitches can have serious consequences for people’s careers.