Thousands support worker suspended for 'stealing' free lunch

Anthea Harding was suspended in March for taking home the leftovers from her lunch. In the weeks since, she has received overwhelming support from more than 7,000 strangers who feel she has been treated unfairly.

As we reported at the time, 41-year-old Harding, from Bloomsbury, worked in a Subway branch in Harrods but is officially employed by Eurest. Workers are provided with a free lunch in the staff canteen, and Harding had ordered a pie, mash and beans that day. However, she had been particularly busy, so didn't have time to finish. To avoid wasting her leftovers, she wrapped it up to take home.

She was stopped when leaving the store, and accused of trying to hide the food. Her employer said at the time it was company policy that staff lunches had to be eaten in store. It added that it was going through a formal disciplinary process, and her store approval had been removed until it is completed.
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Petition

Meanwhile, however, one woman who had read her story decided to set up a petition on change.org, calling for Harding's reinstatement. It has now attracted more than 7,000 signatures from people outraged by how Harding has been treated.

Many added their own comments to the petition, saying they felt the way she had been treated was deplorable, disgraceful and disgusting. Many pointed out that it was simply unfair to insist that people eat their lunch at work, if they weren't given time to do so.

One said: "This is wrong on all levels, this lady should have been able to eat her 'free lunch' whilst at work, not to lose her job because she had to take it home as she never got a break to eat it." Another added: "What kind of employer treats a worker like this? The lady wasn't at fault for being too busy to eat!"

Others pointed out that it was ludicrous to have a rule that effectively insisted that people ought to waste food.

They are hoping that drawing attention to Harding's plight will encourage Eurest to take common sense and respect for humanity into account when deciding how to proceed. Unfortunately for Harding, it doesn't mean the process will be any quicker. She has been unable to return to work for two months now, and has no confirmation of when the process will be completed.

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