Up until last week, Victoria Smith was a Customer Service Manager with at a Wal-Mart in New York. Then she intercepted a shoplifter, released her to the wild (as is legally required), and then got punched in the face when the shoplifter snapped and ran back into the store. Three days later, she was fired for touching the customer.
After another customer alerted Smith to the potential shoplifter, she began checking receipts at the exit. When the suspect came out of the in-store McDonald’s and headed for the exit, Smith intercepted her and pointed out that the receipt didn’t match what was in the cart. The suspect ran out of the store, then had a change of heart and came back in:
Then the irate shopper rushed back into Wal-Mart, screaming at Smith and wielding a Mickey D’s cup of soda, police said. They say she smashed the drink over Smith’s shoulder and landed a hard hook to her cheek. Police said she slugged another associate in the eye, spit in the face of a loss-prevention employee and pummeled another manager who grabbed her shopping cart. No one was seriously injured.
So far, local Wal-Mart officials have neglected to comment on the incident. Smith, a 16-year veteran of customer service, said, “This is so embarrassing. I was just defending myself and this store. I need this job. I have kids to feed. Now, I don’t know if I even want to work in retail anymore.”
Surely there’s more to the story than what the article is reporting, but even if you have a no-touching-customers rule, shouldn’t allowances be made for self defense?
“Woman fired after stopping robbery” [Times Herald-Record] (Thanks to Jean!)
(Photo: Getty)
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Once again, does this really surprise anyone? Walmart is a joke and obviously they don’t give a damn about their employees.
I guess Walmart is just trying to cover their ass. I hate Walmart as much as the next person, but I understand where their coming from. If this crazy person had pull a gun or knife or whatever, Walmart probably would have to dish out mucho dollars for the family of this woman. But of course, they’d find a way not to have to do that….
sounds like something to contact the local news agency where she lives – as a human interest story – a number of the larger news services have reporters that get right in your face over stuff like this and try to reach a solution.
@MYarms: Most large corporations are like this because we want them to make money, damn the consequences. Here’s a comment on another discussion that I think illuminates why bad companies do what they do.
(I’d have cut and pasted it, but it’s a long one that includes links.)
@cryrevolution:
It most certainly could not. Time spent working for Wal-Mart can’t be counted towards total years spent in “Customer Service”.
I guess Wal Mart just wants the employee to take a beating and not defend themselves. But, I agree with MYARMS, is it surprising? Wal-Mart wants the employee to just keep getting punched & stand there…
If possible, get the hell out of retail all together. Practically any job is better then retail….
What do you actually SAY about this story? It’s just another example (in a huge & rapidly growing pile) of why walmart is such a crapola store. They seem to be bottom of the barrel.
I am amazed anyone would want to work there, or shop there for that matter.
@toddkravos: Do you need a reason to go anti-wallyworld? Look around, there are thousands, if not millions (of reasons or LOST AMERICAN JOBS).
I am generally a big supporter of Wal-mart but when they pull this kind of crap they just come across as a bunch of classless A**holes.
Sounds like another case of a large, greedy corporation avoiding a lawsuit, and reducing their liability (this protecting the bottom line) by firing the employee, who, of course, did nothing unethical or unlawful.
I never buy crap at Wal-Mart. (if I need crap, I buy it elsewhere)
It looks to me like Smith can sue Wal-mart for not providing a safe working place. I hope she wins.
@phrygian: sounds like you hit the nail on the head. it’s always about money. always