Mom Claims Girl Scout Cookies Got Her Fired

Girl Scout Cookies have somewhat of a cult following across the US due to their limited availability and positive associations — but one mom in the Washington, D.C. metro area says she was fired over Girl Scout Cookies after three decades of employment.

Tracy Lewis is a single mom and the former Bon Appetit Retail Service Manager — until the Girl Scout Cookies got her fired, she says. Lewis had been stationed with various American University food service companies across 30 years, and she says that all changed in February for her.

The Girl Scout Cookie related firing, Lewis claims, happened on February 18. For the past three years, the mom says, she’s been leaving Girl Scout Cookies in a cart in the Eagle’s Nest campus convenience store. Lewis maintains that the act of selling Girl Scout Cookies at work is not as sinister as it was perceived — she makes no profit herself, and the cookies are sold to raise funds for troops.

But MyFoxDC reports Lewis “was hauled into the boss’ office on February 18th, and told she was being fired for selling the cookies. A follow up letter to the Girl Scout Cookie firing accused her, she says, of “gross misconduct by soliciting,” as well as “operating a personal cash business selling girl scout cookies over the counter which violates company policy.”

The mom says she “had the cookies on a cart,” adding she “would never ask anyone to buy them.” Lewis explains if anyone “wanted to buy some,” they were free to.

Speaking to the station about her claim of being fired over a Girl Scout Cookie sale, Lewis complains:

“They didn’t give me any warning… It’s crazy because I can’t profit for selling the cookies. It’s a volunteer position. I was just trying to help my daughter raise money for trips and stuff like that.”

Maisie Greenawalt is Bon Appetit’s Vice President for Strategy, and she issued a statement about the alleged Girl Scout Cookie firing, saying “employee relations information is confidential.” The company would not confirm Girl Scout Cookies were why Lewis was fired.

Alina McClerkin is Lewis’ daughter’s troop leader, and she says the Girl Scout Cookie firing allegations are potentially harmful to cookie sales:

“A cookie mom is a self-less person. She doesn’t profit from any of this in any way. She’s doing it out of the goodness of her heart. I don’t think anyone should be terminated for doing such a charitable thing.”