WalMart Employee Fired for Doing the Right Thing

[Adrianne Matzkin]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/07/10/ottawa-walmar...

A former employee of Wal-mart in Kemptville, Ont., says she was fired for confronting a customer who left a dog in a truck on a hot day this week.

Carla Cheney told CBC News she hadn't yet started her shift and was in her own clothes outside the store with colleagues on Tuesday when she spotted a Walmart customer leaving his dog in a parked truck.

The dog jumped out of the open window twice to follow the man, Cheney said.

The man took his dog back to the truck and rolled up the windows, leaving them open about an inch, Cheney said. The man then headed into the Walmart.

'Told me it was none of my business'

"I said, 'Is this really happening? I'm going to give him about five or 10 minutes and then I'm going to call the police,'" Cheney recalled.

Carla Cheney says the confrontation happened at this Wal-mart in Kemptville, Ont., on Tuesday. (CBC)

She called the police and an officer arrived to get the man's licence plate, then headed into the store to find him.

Later on, the man left the Walmart and got into his truck, Cheney said. Before he left the parking lot, he pulled up to the table where Cheney was sitting with her colleagues.

"He pulled up to us and said, 'Hello, ladies, how are you?' And I said, 'You shouldn't leave your dog in the car,'" Cheney said.

"He told me it was none of my business and I said that that was fine, that if I saw him do it again I would just call the police next time. He said he was no longer going to be shopping at that Wal-mart, and I said, 'OK.'"

Called to manager's office

Later on that day, Cheney was called into the office of her manager, whom she had spoken to a week earlier about a different dog left in a hot car and who told her there was nothing she could do about it.

Carla Cheney says people should leave their dogs at home if they're going shopping. (CBC)

She said she told him her side of the story about the dog in the truck and that he told her to come to him with any problems in the future.

Cheney said she wouldn't do that.

"So I [told him] if I did see something unsafe, that I would just go to the police if I thought it was necessary," Cheney said.

"He told me then that I was terminated, he wanted my vest, my badge, and to clean out my locker and that I needed to leave."

'I thought I was doing the right thing'

Cheney also said that another former Wal-mart employee was scolded last week for confronting a customer about leaving a dog inside a vehicle. She said that person had already given his two weeks' notice, but that the manager sent him home and told him he'd be paid for the rest of the two weeks.

"Now I'm worried that other associates won't say anything and they'll be afraid that they'll lose their job if they do say something," Cheney said.

"[The manager said I was fired] because I was rude to a customer, but I felt because I was not even on the clock, it shouldn't have been an issue anyways. And I don't think it should be an issue even if I was on the clock … because it's on the news and we're being told not to leave animals and children in cars.

"I thought I was doing the right thing."

Cheney said that on the whole, Walmart is a good company, but thinks the Kemptville store needs to go over what staff are supposed to do when they see something unsafe in the parking lot.

In an emailed statement, Wal-mart Canada wouldn't comment on Cheney's case, but said it has guidelines that cover situations like the one Cheney faced and is reviewing them with staff in Kemptville and across the country.

A Facebook page supporting Cheney, called "Animal Rights for Kemptville Wal-mart," had more than 2,100 members as of Wednesday evening.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/355415201228556/

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I absolutely hate WalMart and have not shopped there in nearly a decade. Another reason to stay away for the next decade. Hey Target, make this girl a manager

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I wish there were a LIKE button on DK :)

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Target is coming to Canada in September... not sure there's a store going up in Kemptville though, it's a small town (very close to here!)

I'm glad this lady stood up for that dog, I'm sure she doesn't regret it.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ditto, Joanne. I wouldn't go into a Walmart again if they were giving their junk merchandise away for free. IMO, Walmart represents everything that is wrong in this country. 

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Totally agree!

[DJ & Chance]

Yep

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I say anybody who leaves their dog in a hot car deserves any rude remark they get. Too bad that jerk won this round and the employee ended up being fired. I feel sorry for his dog. I am not a fan of Walmart and even less after this story.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

And this, ladies & gents, is why I detest Walmart and will.not.shop.there.ever.

I told a coworker just the other day that I equate Walmart shopping to shopping on Black Friday. I'd rather pay twice as much another day. 

This story is enraging.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Sam Walton is yet again rolling in his grave at what has become of his company.  I am NOT a Walmart shopper for many, many reasons, employee services and treatment being my number one complaint. 

[Adina P]

So basically she should have NOT said anything to the man while on duty after already calling the police on him.  That part wasn't going to make a difference if the police didn't.  I wouldn't probably let a person know it was ME who called the police on them...it would make me afraid of retribution.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Unfortunately in the rural area that I live in there is very little choice of shopping without going 45 miles one way so I do shop some at WalMart.  A couple of years ago on an extremely hot day I observed a man in their parking lot leaving his dog in the pickup truck with windows rolled up to within a couple of inches of being closed.  I spoke to the man about it and he said he was only going in for a few minutes.  I knew a few minutes in the 90+ degree temperature would not be good for the dog and went in the store and asked an employee to call the police.  I got the "can't do it, against store policy" and would not even lend me a phone to make the call.  This was one of the few times I had left my cell phone at home so I went out into the parking lot and found a person talking on their  cell phone and asked could I use it to make an emergency call.  She was gracious and lent me her phone and I called the police who responded very quickly.  By that time the man was getting in his truck and leaving.  By then 15 or so minutes had elapsed   The police officer told me I had done the right thing and to always call 911 to report dogs left in vehicles during hot weather with inadequate ventilation.  WalMart needs to change their policy!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Walmart wouldn't even change their parking lot policies regarding human safety (lighting or the lack thereof at night) , they would never change them for dogs...unless someone paid them to, lol.