Posted on 12/29/2007 6:08:47 AM PST by madprof98
Ann Arbor, Mich. —- A grocery store worker says he lost his job after he tried to stop a shoplifter from making a getaway.
But the company says he went too far and violated a policy that prohibits employees from physically touching a customer —- even if that person is carrying a bag of stolen goods.
John Schultz, 35, of Ypsilanti Township, had worked at the Whole Foods Market store for five years, most recently as a fishmonger. He wants his job back.
"The fact that I worked at the store at [the time of the robbery] is coincidental," he said. "If I had went over to the bookstore on my break and they were being ripped off, I would have helped them."
Schultz says he had just punched out for a break at 7 p.m. on Sunday when he heard a commotion at the front door of the store. He said he came to the aid of the manager who yelled for help in stopping a shoplifter. Schultz, the manager and another employee cornered the shoplifter between two cars in the parking lot.
Schultz said he told the shoplifter he was making a citizen's arrest and to wait for the police to arrive, but the shoplifter broke away from the group and ran across the street toward a gas station.
Before the man could cross, Schultz caught up and grabbed the man's jacket and put his leg behind the man's legs. When the manager arrived at the intersection, Schultz said, the manager told him to release the shoplifter, and he complied.
Schultz said he was called to the store's office the next day, on Christmas Eve, and was fired because he violated a company policy prohibiting employees from having any physical contact with a customer.
Kate Klotz, a company spokeswoman, said the policy is clear and listed in a booklet that all employees have to acknowledge that they received before they can start work.
"The fact that he touched him, period, is means for termination," said Klotz.
Fifteen or twenty other employers should be lined up to hire this responsible individual; I’ll bet he’s not out of work for long!
The manager should be fired for yelling. Yelling scares the customers and hurts my ears. He and the other employee should also be fired for cornering the shoplifter. Cornering someone is holding someone hostage. That scares people.
I know it's splitting hairs but any legal eagles out there know whether he's acting in the capacity of an "employee" when he had physical contact with the robber if he is clocked out and not being paid?
Technically, the way I see it is the guy wasn't on the clock and working - therefore, he didn't have to abide by the "no physical contact" rule.
However, if he wears a uniform and most likely did not change out of the uniform on his break, I reckon the company could say that by having the uniform on, he would be assumed to be an employee whether being paid or not.
Regardless, give the guy his job back for cryin' out loud.
But, then again, I just realized that the poor robber, by this time and with the help of a lawyer and probably family members and friends, is trying to figure out how to sue "Whole Foods".
What a tangled web we've allowed to be woven.
I'm getting cross-eyed just thinking of all the ramifications possible when one tries to stop crime.
And this shoplifter was a customer?
“Fifteen or twenty other employers should be lined up to hire this responsible individual; I’ll bet he’s not out of work for long!”
I agree. I’m sure with all the publicity this case has received, he’ll have plenty of job opportunities to choose from.
I hope that Whole foods Market looses Thousands of dollars this Year from Rampant theft.....
I’ve sent Ms Klotz an email stating that I won’t shop at whole foods again. I won’t post the email addy here, but I will say it’s very easy to find, if anybody cares to let them know what you think.
LOL!
No details on the shoplifter, whom I expect belongs to an Accredited Victim Group...and touching an individual in that category is always grounds for termination so as to minimize bad MSM publicity. ;)
Let me get this straight. The manager is yelling for help and when help arrives; he fires the help the next day.
Makes a lot of sense to me. Yeah, right. Sometimes policy and rules are bad.
Yeah? Well, I was nearly killed by a shoplifter, because he pulled a gun after an employee yelled at him to stop. I suffered emotional trauma and mental anguish and it took me years to recover. Which is why I hope the shoplifter’s cellmate’s name is Bubba.
Especially since th eemployee made sure to make a citizen’s arrest. From that point on, he was technically outside store “police” and a part of our legal system in persuit of a criminal.
The store's monetary loss is minimal from the stolen items, but if the thief had knifed or shot the store employee after the employee violated store policy by physically confronting the person the store would be sued, the parents, friends and co-workers would be devastated.
As a businessman, I say let the crack-head punk have the $20.00 worth of goods, let the cops handle it. I do not want you hurt.
To John Schultz:
Tell your lawyer to argue that the shoplifter was NOT a customer, because he didn’t actually BUY anything from the store. Therefore, you did not actually violate the store’s policy of not touching a CUSTOMER.
IMO, the guy is too good an employee and was wasted on an establishment like that, anyway. With a policies like that, it’s hard to believe a buyout isn’t coming soon.
“I bet he was wearing a multicolored knit cap and had a goatee.”
And you base this on what?
Seriously, how do you stop shoplifters without touching them. With strong words or bright lights?
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