[slapchoppa]

source


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)
Another bystander took down the license plate number, then headed into the store, Cheney said, so she decided not to call police.

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.

*******

walmart canada's response:
Many people have expressed concerns regarding a recent media story about the dismissal of an associate from our Kemptville store as well as Walmart's commitment to supporting animal rights.

We would like to clear up important misconceptions that have been circulating in the media as well as on social media.

The associate in question was absolutely not let go for trying to help a dog in a hot car. The decision to dismiss an associate is one that we take extremely seriously and must follow a comprehensive process. However, out of respect for the associate and for privacy reasons we cannot provide specifics about why this associate was let go.

Walmart is a supporter and advocate for animal rights. Over the past year alone we have made donations to local SPCAs, the Humane Society and Animal Shelters. In addition, signs will be added to the front of all our stores across the country to advise customers of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in a hot car.

We also have a long standing protocol that directs associates to take appropriate action, and if necessary, notify the authorities if they believe an animal is in distress or at risk. In the case of the recent story in the media about our Kemptville store, as per our protocol, the store manager did speak to the customer in question about the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car.
walmart press release

[Sturrminator]

FUCK Walmart

[Azimuth]

I would tell them "no, fuck you, I quit."

Sometimes you have to do the right thing even its it's not the popular thing to do.

[oreon333]

[bigjoe]

I love wal-mart. Its about time stores start firing these rude workers. McDonalds and the postal service should take notice.

[Darkest Angel]

I think she did the right thing & its a crying shame she was fired for it!!

[ices]

Oh and what are ya gonna do Merica?

Not work in one of the biggest employers of average joes/janes?

Not gonna shop there anymore? Not a fucking chance!

[pbaj12]

Originally Posted by bigjoe ↗

I love wal-mart. Its about time stores start firing these rude workers. McDonalds and the postal service should take notice.

Go work there

[mcpronoun]

[Megamel29]

"In addition, signs will be added to the front of all our stores across the country to advise customers of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in a hot car."

I've seen these signs in a couple Walmarts on the doors. I wondered why they were there.