off duty employee fired for stopping shoplifter...

[Wrathborne]

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2007/12/grocery_worker_fired_for_stopp.html
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...Stupid. The employee was correct in what he did. I hope he gets his job back and the manager and spokesperson for whole foods get some major shit.

[Driden]

Retarded. If he was off then the rules don't apply to him. Kind of like a police officer is about to drink off duty but not on. Should cops be fired for having a drink at a bar after work?

[Knight]

These type of policies are in place to protect the business. You can get your ass sued big time just for searching someone. This guy wasn't loss prevention nor was he a cop so he had absolutely no right to lay his hands on anyone.

This was the right course of action.

[WarBeast]

Besides, there are rules that police have to follow when off-duty. My dad, a corrections officer, said there are policies that he must follow off-duty that if he doesn't, he get's canned... conduct unbecoming and officer and shit like that.

[Driden]

Besides, there are rules that police have to follow when off-duty. My dad, a corrections officer, said there are policies that he must follow off-duty that if he doesn't, he get's canned... conduct unbecoming and officer and shit like that.

whoa that sucks. See, that's not a job anymore that's a lifestyle

[LgOr]

suppose if the shoplifter had a gun and was going to kill everyone and this guy stopped him, he would if still been fired

[MrNobody]

My advise, if it's not your store who cares. It's pretty obvious that employers don't give a shit about the employees.. If that was me, on duty or off duty, take what you want. Ain't my store, not my business. Would be a diffrent story if it was a small business and you were close to your boss, but when you work for these big stores and companies..... fuck 'em. Do your time and go home.

[pastor_ice43]

Here are the facts.

A. The man was NOT on duty, therefore, he does not have to abide by the handbook rules unless they EXPLICITLY state that such prohibited activities apply at all times. Such a requirement must be stated and not assumed.

B. Even if the man WAS on duty, a shoplifter by definition is not a customer, and thus, would not fall into that category.

C. A citizens arrest is a legal move that a civilian can make at any time if someone has committed a crime. This includes the right to detain them by non violent means until the proper authorities arrive.

Any way you look at it, this company was in the wrong, and unless they give this man his job back, he has a hell of a suit on his hands.

If this guy had stopped a gunman from shooting someone, no one would have said anything about him being fired.

[bravenewworld1]

The company was not wrong for what they did, the system is "dont hate the player hate the game" .
By doing that they avoided some possible lawsuits or business investigations.
Sadly enough though, we are pussies in America and people are no longer allowed to defend their business, help people or do anything positive for mankind that is not approved by PC law makers.
As an employer and if the rules stated an employee cannot touch another i would have suspended the person until word came down to fire him, Because it would i have no doubts about that.
But me personally.......... had that employee caught him and kicked his ass, i would have fired him, gave him a great recommendation, and gave him my quarterly bonus.

[WarBeast]

suppose if the shoplifter had a gun and was going to kill everyone and this guy stopped him, he would if still been fired

Nah... most likely, the heroic guy would be dead...

[bravenewworld1]

Nah... most likely, the heroic guy would be dead...

Ironically.....
people watch too many movies in these forums.

[WarBeast]

Here are the facts.

A. The man was NOT on duty, therefore, he does not have to abide by the handbook rules unless they EXPLICITLY state that such prohibited activities apply at all times. Such a requirement must be stated and not assumed.

Wrong, this whole situation started in the place of business, doesn't matter if he was on duty or off. At my job, it is against the rules to consume alcohol on company grounds while working, but you will also get canned quicker than shit for drinking beer in the parking lot when you're off work as well.

Or a better example, It is against the rules at my job to physically threaten or assualt anyone while working... likewise, it will get you fired if you do so off the clock as well.

When you work for a company, you are a representative of that company... and in some states, that means the shit you do off the clock can be held against you, when you clock in.

For example, if Michigan is anything like Missouri, it is not a "right to work" state. In Missouri, an employer can can your ass for no reason whatsoever, as long as he can prove it's not a matter or age, sex, or race discrimination. The employer can walk in and decide he just doesn't like you and tell you that you're just not working out, and Boom! You're hitting the unemployment office...

Personally, what I'd have done is fire him, give him a "severance package" to tide him over and tell him to come back in about a month or so, after the story lapses into obscurity and hire him back... with a stern warning not to do that again, of course.

[DrSatan]

What a moron. Does he expect to get a medal of honour for beating the shit out of some asshole who stole a tooth brush? What a fucking waste of time and effort. Dumbass deserves to work at McDonalds for a few weeks.

[Wrathborne]

... the asshole stole over $300 worth of merchandise. reading the article might help you make a better opinion drsatan :P

[FreddyKruger316]

The guy is getting fired for physically touching a customer? Since when is a shoplifter a customer? And on top of that the incident happened off store property at a time when the employee was not on the clock. I don't think termination is justified in this case. I hope the guy gets his job back.

[Knight]

... the asshole stole over $300 worth of merchandise. reading the article might help you make a better opinion drsatan :P

Ok, so you're a store owner. Some douche steals $300 worth of crap, one of your off-duty employees tries to be a hero and tackles the guy/makes a big scene and now you have a lawsuit on your hands. That $300 turns into a $150,000 settlement.

No way, you say? Yes way. Happens all the time. A friend of mine who worked loss prevention in K-mart explained to me how delicate this type of situation is.

So basically, would you rather lose $300 or $150,000?

[Wrathborne]

WHile that does make sense, it doesnt make it right. Yeah my father is a security guard in Oregon, he knows all the rules and has explained them too me.

I blame how lawsuit happy the world has gotten. I dont think that this dumbfuck knew that an off duty was following him, until the manager opened up his stupid ass mouth.

When assholes shoplift, get tackled by someone who's essentially being a good samaritan, they shouldnt have any fucking right to sue the person who apprehended them, or the company they stole from.

Assholes have more rights than they desrve, something needs to be done about that.

[Duff McCartney]

This has happened a few times to me at my work. I work at OD...and we've had some asshole steal LCD tvs just by walking out with them. One time he came and stole one and I saw him and I ran after him...I didn't do anything but stand there and read his license plate and car type. I couldn't do anything.

What really pissed me off is that one of the LP managers sent an email basically shitting all over us. I was fucking pissed...and I flat out told one of the managers if I see the guy steal again...I'm kicking his ass down. I don't care if I get fired or not...it's bullshit for criticising us when we can do nothing to stop them.

[Wrathborne]

it sucks, being a security guard can be really redundant when all you can do is observe while waiting for the cops to show up. Even security guards arent allowed to touch a shoplifter.

You just watch the fotage, try to catch the license plate and thats it.

[H78]

Eh, who cares. He worked at a supermarket. I'm sure Shaw's or Stop and Shop is hiring.

[réÐþÁ†µ]

I say dont bother helping.

Big supermarket companies like Stop and Shop or any company in general doesnt get give a rats ass about the little people, only that you put product on the shelf or cash people out of the store.

Far as im concerned. In the long run I'll lose money if people steal from the company but in the short term. I could give a fuck if someone walks out of Stop and Shop with $200-300 worth of baby formula. Im not going to waste a finger to stop them.

Nevetheless, the way our store catches people is quite simple. When security is onto someone. They setup a couple ON duty employees outside of either entrance to nab them the minute they walk out the door. They never know it because the employee takes off his uniform. Its all good because our store gets away with it and I have yet to hear they've put a stop to that kind of procedure.

[choptop2]

when I was at the Art Institute I worked at a shitty store that sold nothing but Steelers, Pirates, Penguins merchandise. This stuff was pricey so we got a lot of junkies coming in trying to swipe jerseys, coats, etc. The Owner was a dick, they did no formal inventory, and I didn't lose any money so I never stopped anyone. Not worth it.

One Assistant manager was punched in the face after approaching a shoplifter (Who jammed $400 worth of children's clothing into a bag), chased him to his car and the guy tried to get him with a pipe.

[GrimBeornTheOld]

The guy's a dumbass. The thief stole $300 worth of merchandise. Would that really be worth the risk of getting shot, stabbed and/or sued?

[Wrathborne]

The guy was trying to do the right thing, the only dumbass is the one who chastizes him for doing so.

[Knight]

The right thing is to let the cops/store handle it according to their policies.

[GrimBeornTheOld]

The guy was trying to do the right thing, the only dumbass is the one who chastizes him for doing so.

Simple question: Is $300 really worth the risk of getting killed over?


I think the last time that was a lot of money was back when rich boys paid it in the 1800's to get out of the draft.