Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has faced backlash after taking disciplinary action against an employee who failed to collect R2 donations for the Add Hope Foundation.

The incident came to light when an anonymous employee shared a warning letter via Twitter, leading KFC to investigate. The company later confirmed the franchise owner issued the warning, which goes against KFC’s policy that Add Hope donations should be voluntary.

KFC went on to reiterate that donations should not be tied to performance measures and emphasised ongoing communication and training to prevent such incidents.

Employees, however, reported significant pressure to solicit donations, with some receiving verbal warnings or being reassigned if targets were not met. They also spoke on the struggles of dealing with sceptical customers who don’t believe the donations reach the underprivileged youth.

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) condemned the practice, demanding clear policies to protect employees from unfair treatment. FAWU highlighted that employees should not be responsible for customers’ donation decisions.

Despite the controversy, KFC maintains that Add Hope enhances public trust and supports over 130 nonprofit organisations through customer and company contributions. However, questions about the transparency and impact of the funds raised remain.