On June 3, 2010, a fire broke out in Heidi Heise's Dartmouth, N.S., apartment building. Several tenants had to find other accommodations, but fortunately Heidi's apartment was not damaged and she did not have to move out. Two of her neighbours were affected and, feeling sorry for them, Heidi offered them the use of her apartment while they looked for other accommodations.

Heidi had worked at three Subway fast-food restaurants during the previous three years, most recently including ten months full time at one outlet. After the fire the neighbours to whom she had lent her apartment came to the restaurant to thank her. Because they were hungry and had no money, Heidi prepared two six-inch subs for them. As an employee working over her lunch period she was entitled to one free 12-inch sub, but decided to forgo it and gave it away. Store policy required that she record her consumption of the sub, but she forgot.

A restaurant manager observed Heidi giving away the subs on a surveillance camera a few days later and fired her. Heidi was not impressed to have been fired for helping someone in need. She also believed that she had been a good employee: she had never receiving warnings or punishments related to her job. Several people intervened on Heidi's behalf, including her direct supervisor, but the general manager insisted on the firing. One of the neighbours and the apartment building manager also appealed to Subway in favour of Heidi.

A representative of Atlantic Subway Ltd. commented that the incident was unfortunate. Subway Restaurants Canada issued a statement saying that it was concerned, but personnel matters were the responsibility of the franchise owner. Calls by the media to Subway were not answered, but the incident received nationwide coverage. Reader comments to a Halifax Chronicle Herald story stated the following opinions:

- Subway had missed an opportunity to recognize an employee doing a good or right thing.

- The incident may have a negative impact on the morale of other employees.

- Subway should be boycotted.

About a week later, Heidi was offered a job by Subway competitor Quiznos, which also decided to donate $2 from the sale of subs to the victims of the fire.

Questions

1. What are the issues involved in this incident?

2. What ethical theories (Principles of Ethical Analysis) can be applied to analyze this incident?

3. Was Subway justified in firing Heidi?

4. As a manager, how would you have handled this incident? What aspects of an ethics program would have assisted you?