ExpertLaw.com Forums

Fired Due to Unknown Company Policy

Printable View

  • 07-31-2011, 11:02 AM
    SaraJetlag
    Fired Due to Unknown Company Policy
    My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: New Mexico

    I have been working at Wal-Mart for close to a year now and have received a previous coaching do to my attendance (I have FMLA). The incident that caused my termination went as follows:
    During a shift where I was training a new cashier, another Cashier, we'll call her Sally, approached me and asked me to alert the door greeter, we'll call her Hannah, about a woman that was at the self check-out stand. She was unsure if the woman had placed an item in her bag that wasn't paid for and wanted to make sure Hannah checked the bag. Hannah has a hard time understanding English and the English she speaks is sometimes broken. I explained to Hannah in the best way possible the situation at hand. Once I thought she understood I stepped away.
    Next thing I know the customer that she had checked called the store and alerted me that Hannah not only checked her grocery sack, but also checked her purse. I am fully aware that it is against policy to check a customers personal belongings at the door. Immediately I contacted our assistant manager and let her know. A few weeks later I was called into the office and was interview by both the assistant manager and our store manager. I told my side of the story and concluded that there was some miscommunication involved and they said that an investigation would be conducted.

    Just last week, about a full month after the actual incident I was pulled in again. I was told after the investigation they found I had violated a policy which stated that I, being a cashier, was not allowed to give instruction to any other employees unless I was a salaried member of management or a employee with such powers (Such as a Customer Service Manager). I was told the following day would be my D-Day and I would then find out if I could keep my job or not.

    I was terminated for violating the policy they mentioned, which I knew nothing about until this incident occurred.

    From what I knew previously Sally also had a prior D-Day and she was allowed to keep her job. But as far as I could see from the investigation they did not in any way question Sally and I feel that it may be do to the fact that she is pregnant and they don't want any legal trouble for discrimination.

    What I would like to know is if I have a place in suing the store for this situation that ultimately ended with my termination?
  • 07-31-2011, 11:55 AM
    cbg
    Re: Fired Do to Unknown Company Policy
    What happened appears to be unfair but does not appear to be illegal.
  • 08-01-2011, 11:29 PM
    shelbydakota
    Re: Fired Do to Unknown Company Policy
    I too once worked for them, however they explain every policy related to your job before you even touch a register. You take tests, read the handbook, watch videos, etc. And if you were not even there for a year, how did you have fmla?
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:27 PM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.4
Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 - 2018 ExpertLaw.com, All Rights Reserved