A Connecticut Dunkin’ worker claims she was fired after relying on artificial intelligence to question her employer’s tip distribution policy, sparking a lawsuit that could brew a new conversation about digital tools, employee rights, and retaliation.
In a complaint filed Wednesday in Waterbury Superior Court, Sabrina Kaminska alleges that franchise operator Simone’s Inc. fired her just hours after she asked whether withholding tips until the end of the month complied with labor law. Kaminska, who had only worked less than two weeks at the Dunkin’ location, says her AI-assisted inquiry triggered swift termination—allegedly under false pretenses.
A Search Result, A Supervisor, And A Swift Exit
Kaminska says that on May 15, 2025, she ran a search online to understand whether Simone’s tip-holding practice was legal. The search results suggested it was not. When she presented this to her supervisor, the response was curt: “That’s AI. It’s not real. This article is not for Dunkin’ Donuts.”
An hour later, Kaminska was out of a job.
The termination, according to the complaint, came despite the fact that earlier that day she was allowed to pick up extra hours—contradicting the supervisor’s claim that she was being let go due to customer complaints.
