Just need to vent
20 year career with a major retailer. Had solid career momentum. Living decently well. Never have any issues at the job. I believe I was a good manager who treated people fairly and always went to bat for them when they deserved more. Also, just had my best year, performance wise, ever.
Back in December, as I was getting a receipt validated by security for a drink I purchased, he noticed someone possibly about to walk out with product without paying. I start moving to the side of the exit to make myself visible and just convince the guy to not bother. Not here to be a hero or get someone arrested. Just trying to deter. Have my drink in my hand.
The shoplifter, quite unexpectedly, charges at me. I’m able to turn around quickly enough and brace myself before finally separating. Security grabs the guy and I, in a moment of instinct, grab the security wrap on the item. The shoplifter pushes into me again and punches me in the face. I don’t let go of the product but I just keep saying “just drop it and leave” hoping to end the chaos. Shoplifter lets go, runs back into the store, grabs more product and tries to run out with it. I just get on the phone with 911 as security struggles with the guy. He leaves without product while I’m still on phone.
Today, I get fired because “as a leader” I “acted recklessly”. I got charged, punched in the face and fired. I’m in at At Will state, so my career is gone and now I need to find something else quickly so I can continue to pay the mortgage and rest of the bills a normal family has.
I know people say corporations don’t care about their employees, but I’m just incredibly devastated. I was a damn good employee and it’s all gone because some jerkoff charged at me and corporate refuses to see any nuance in the event.
I feel like OP did the right thing by heart, and this story would have had a different ending in a country with different gun laws and history of gun violence. Also if the case really is OP was let go to show others that they should not engage in this “reckless behaviour” I feel it at least it should have been communicated as such when fired.
No guns involved in this story at all.
BlAmE gUnS 🤪
You’re missing the point. HAD guns been involved, putting your hands on somebody can get really ugly really fast. You don’t want or need to take these chances with desperate people.
Ahh. So hypothetically blah blah blah guns r bad. Yeah, that makes sense.
Yes it does make sense. Because the insurance companies operate completely on hypotheticals. And that has a very real cost to the business being insured.
“but imagine if there were guns theree”
Like, are you seriously that scared that you need to make up situations just because “guns”.
It’s not about guns, it’s about liability. If more people had been seriously hurt because he grabbed the item instead of simply letting the guy go, the could have sued the retailer because he escalated it.
Notice in OP’s story he was punched after he and security grappled with the guy.
I blame the system that allows a theif to sue the people stopping them from stealing
injuries cost more than most stolen goods. This is one of the realities we face between insurance companies and lack of welfare.
Blame whoever you want. In reality they teach you not to be a hero. Security is there for that. They are the people responsible. If they ask you to do something, do it. If they don’t, then don’t try anything that may make the situation worse.
Product is replaceable and insured. Your life, or the life of anyone else there isn’t. The fact is that it most likely impacted other people working there since “manager got punched in the face, I don’t feel safe here anymore” is a reasonable reaction.
He probably shouldn’t have gotten fired for it, but still - OP isn’t entirely blameless.
Here’s a doozy for ya: in Canada, a person can smash your window to break into your house, and if they cut themselves on the broken glass, they have every legal right to sue you and win.