Okay so I'm just gonna go ahead and throw in my two cents on a number of questions here that got me thinking:
Was a straight up firing justified? I say so. It's one of the very few hard lines we're given Dora has with her employees. She was very straight with Faye THE DAY BEFORE about not drinking on the job. Dora has full context of Faye's alcoholic tendencies and knows just sending her home, even on unpaid suspension, would not change her issues. In addition, Faye got promoted solely due to her seniority. There is very little in-comic evidence to suggest Faye works harder/smarter/better than another employee would given her experience. Finally, that presents a major immediate liability, which would continue for the forseeable future. Aside from the milk incident, all "harm" given to customers has been solely verbal, which is not something that can be sued over. And the milk incident was not any serious harm. Marten's ex knew she didn't have a leg to stand on between no observable damages and three witnesses who would claim it was an accident.
This could actually hurt someone, and Dora has enough scraps of empathy to not allow that to happen.
The termination is completely justified, and is in my opinion the best course of action Dora could take.
Dora's not being supportive/Faye's being a bitch/This will only spiral Faye downwards/About time Faye gets comeuppance/Screw Dora/Screw Faye
No.
No.
NONONONONO.
These are two reasonable people dealing with stresses the best way they know how. Faye is stuck with a number of issues, especially abandonment and alcoholism, and has been able to continue getting by due mostly to good friends and good luck. This is the first time her issues have led her right into a wall, and her best shot at overcoming them yet. Being mentally scarred and unable to cope properly is an entirely different animal from being selfish. At the same time, Dora's tried being supportive, even gone through the therapy/gym scenario with her, and has found the issues worse. She has a liability to her business and to the hundreds of customers she will likely get that day before Faye.
What will happen next?
There are a hell of a lot of scenarios, so I'm gonna go through a few and their likeliness/my opinions on them because I have nothing better to do.
1 - Dora pulls a turn around and is only giving Faye a temporary suspension. I've seen this a lot on the forum, but I would hate to see this. Faye needs to feel a really bad break, much more than a suspension to get her mind right, and it would remove a lot of Dora's reputation as a lenient-unless-you-do-this-bad-thing boss. I don't think Jeph's gonna go this way, as a full-on drama bomb has been building for a while and it's not gonna defuse that easily.
2 - Faye, without a job or a Marten to rant to/punch/hug/barf on, drunk calls Angus. This is the one I want. It gives a chance for actual closure with Angus and development with Faye. This could also lead to a number of possibilities (LDR, hook-up and move out, some form of closure), and could segue into any of the later options. I have a gut feeling Jeph will do this, but I wouldn't call it likely. But PLS JEPH PLS.
3 - Marten chooses ailing best friend over date with Claire, first argument ensues. I'd argue this is the most likely scenario. Marten, although he's gotten firmer over the past year real time, is still Marten. He's still caring to a fault, easily pushed around, and cares about Faye more than he does anyone (except Claire) at this point. Claire, in her first relationship, and still having a fair amount of self-esteem issues, could easily take this the wrong way, spreading the drama throughout.
4a - Drunk Faye goes to Sven, drunk sex causing nuclear levels of fallout with Dora. Please, Jeph, no. Faye needs a rock right now and might see that in our (least) favorite smarmasaur. Sven is obviously still smitten for Faye, and would love a chance to "prove" himself worthy. The rest of this writes itself, but it seems too easy.
4b - Drunk Faye goes to Sven, Sven actually is a gentleman and turns Faye down. Okay, before anyone asks, no, my name is not in reference to this Sven, it was my online handle before I read QC because I am quarter Swede. I feel like this would be a great opportunity to give character development to two of the least-developed characters in universe, Sven and Faye. It could prove Sven actually deserves a spot in the QC cast and has some shreds of decency, and he could easily be Faye's rock in helping sober up.
5 - Either drunken or sober, Faye gets back into art. I feel like this is the likely long term scenario, as I don't see Faye getting rehired. Faye has been shown to have artistic success (the dino statue commission.) She's gonna need to make rent. And the key to her recovering is to start taking ownership of her actions and her life, instead of riding on Marten and Dora's coattails.
And finally, 6 - Steve eats more cereal. Because duh.
Any questions class?