Walmart employees fired after stopping robbery

[Longboysfan]

From the linked article:



Also from the article:



At that point it wasn't about loss of merchandise prevention but about loss of life prevention. The thief attacked an employee with a loaded handgun. WTH does management expect these employees to do in this situation? The thief wasn't trying to escape, he was engaging an employee with a deadly weapon.

The employees did the right thing. They did the only thing they could do.

Exactly. So should we call him Brown pants Cowboy Dan....

 

[TellerMorrow34]

If I were them I wouldn't lose a second of sleep over getting fired for doing what is right.

It might not be what people deem the safest thing to do but to hell with that. A person has a gun on you then you're already not safe. No reason to wait around and hope that this particular guy isn't the kind of guy that's going to shoot you even if you give him what he wants.

I'd do what they did and be happily looking for another job if need be. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

[CowboyDan]

Exactly. So should we call him Brown pants Cowboy Dan....

Excuse me? Come again? What is your problem with the things I've posted?

 

[Reality]

It won't be popular, but I agree that disciplinary action should take place. Not sure firing is what I would do, but some discipline for sure. Here's why:

"We appreciate the intentions demonstrated by our associates in this situation, but the actions taken put their safety, and potentially the safety of our customers and other associates in jeopardy."

Actually, it was the actions of the criminal that put the employees and customers in jeopardy. It was the actions of the employees that removed employees and customers from being in jeopardy.

If someone points a gun at me at that point they are the enemy. I am not going to sit here and act like a lot of people will such as bosting of the manly actions I would take but I will say this .. if at any moment I feel as if my life is in serious danger, I will take my chances trying to disarm or take them out.

If living means losing a job, I'll go with living.

-Reality

 

[Hoofbite]

I used to bust shoplifters for Sears here in Tucson. We had that same rule. However, I have no doubt whatsoever that if we had been forced to disarm someone in our Loss Prevention Office we would have been supported by the company.

Bottom line, other associates and customers were not harmed. 4 people did what they felt they had to. Stupid policies are ones that have no common sense or leniency for given circumstances.

I hope they sue big time.

Best they can hope for is a settlement.

Doubt they'd win anything in an actual case.

 

[CowboyDan]

Actually, it was the actions of the criminal that put the employees and customers in jeopardy. It was the actions of the employees that removed employees and customers from being in jeopardy.

If someone points a gun at me at that point they are the enemy. I am not going to sit here and act like a lot of people will such as bosting of the manly actions I would take but I will say this .. if at any moment I feel as if my life is in serious danger, I will take my chances trying to disarm or take them out.

If living means losing a job, I'll go with living.

-Reality

In this particular case.
And if you feel that you can safely disarm them or take them out, go for it. As I said, I would too. But I wouldn't expect my employer to think it was ok, because they don't have the luxury of assuming that all of their employees will handle the situation with the skill of Rambo and the fury of Chuck Norris.
I know everybody thinks they're this guy:

http://t3.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaKzs_vGxhfr-JFdzuJewKZWWdAnb6Z-BvnTkiXbnq_mKNeCIDlw&t=1

but most of your fellow employees are really this guy:

and if this guy decides to play hero, and misses, and the robber decides to unload his clip on everyone in sight, then it becomes a problem for more than just our hero. Do you see what I mean? There's a reason that Walmart has this policy, and as many have stated, they're not the only ones. And as I have stated, I do not think firing is the appropriate disciplinary action, but I do not expect them to be happy about anyone playing hero.

 

[Kangaroo]

In this particular case.
And if you feel that you can safely disarm them or take them out, go for it. As I said, I would too. But I wouldn't expect my employer to think it was ok, because they don't have the luxury of assuming that all of their employees will handle the situation with the skill of Rambo and the fury of Chuck Norris.
I know everybody thinks they're this guy:

http://t3.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaKzs_vGxhfr-JFdzuJewKZWWdAnb6Z-BvnTkiXbnq_mKNeCIDlw&t=1

but most of your fellow employees are really this guy:

and if this guy decides to play hero, and misses, and the robber decides to unload his clip on everyone in sight, then it becomes a problem for more than just our hero. Do you see what I mean? There's a reason that Walmart has this policy, and as many have stated, they're not the only ones. And as I have stated, I do not think firing is the appropriate disciplinary action, but I do not expect them to be happy about anyone playing hero.

What happens when they do nothing and they unload a clip in them oh they have insurance for that; it is not about safety but money if they do nothing the insurance will take care of everything if someone does something and it happens they lose money.

It is more fear over being held liable and losing money.

 

[Hoofbite]

Retail policies on shoplifting are pretty stupid.

I worked at Best Buy for a while and you basically have to see someone take the item, know where they have it hidden and never let that person out of your sight and report it to the loss prevention guy at the front of the store.

I only ever caught one person stealing something and I didn't even see him do it.

I was walking by him and just said "what's up" and he looked at me all weird and mumbled. He looked nervous as all hell and was heading to the bathroom. Told the LP person and she went to the bathroom area and waited outside.

Dude came out, saw her and went back in.

He came out and then dropped the CD on a shelf and walked off.

I'll likely never work retail again but if I find myself in that setting, I have no plans on trying to stop anyone from stealing anything.

I have no plans on risking even a jammed toe over a netbook or some CD or whatever else it is. It could be the most expensive item in the store, I don't care.

Retail companies will piss on you at the drop of a hat. They have no loyalty to their employees and will not hesitate to fire someone to save face.

 

[CowboyDan]

What happens when they do nothing and they unload a clip in them oh they have insurance for that; it is not about safety but money if they do nothing the insurance will take care of everything if someone does something and it happens they lose money.

It is more fear over being held liable and losing money.

Absolutely. They'd rather you let them walk with the merchandise. I'm not arguing any of this. I'm not saying the employee is bad and the company is good I'm saying that they have reasons for their policy.

 

[tupperware]

Interesting, they already seem to have a lack of employees, at least the one near me does. 50 registers built and constructed and only 5 open when I go there. I hate the place and only go when I absolutely positively must.

 

[Kangaroo]

Interesting, they already seem to have a lack of employees, at least the one near me does. 50 registers built and constructed and only 5 open when I go there. I hate the place and only go when I absolutely positively must.

I quit going all together unless my wife drags me there; I will go to Target; Cotsco or get it of Amazon to avoid Walmart. I use to like Walmart now I despise the place it is not the place I use to like to go shopping anymore.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

The employees did the right thing. They had a gun pulled on them by some hood and they had their backs against the wall with no where to go.

Honestly, I would have done the same thing but I would have made it look like a big struggle and shot the guy.

The more of these degenerates that are gone the better.

It's not like the guy was stealing a loaf of bread and peanut butter to feed his family either.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Absolutely. They'd rather you let them walk with the merchandise. I'm not arguing any of this. I'm not saying the employee is bad and the company is good I'm saying that they have reasons for their policy.

But defending yourself doesn't fall under this policy. It's a completely different situation.

The employees had every right to defend themselves since they were in no position to retreat.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

"We appreciate the intentions demonstrated by our associates in this situation, but the actions taken put their safety, and potentially the safety of our customers and other associates in jeopardy."

Attention Wal Mart big shots everyone was in jeopardy when these thugs pulled guns on YOUR workers. YOUR associates saved the day and you fire them, BRILLIANT!