For the past few years I have been doing several different type of merchandising jobs - from building displays to doing resets. Last January I received a phone call from Craig Livingston asking if my roommate (who does not want to be Disclosed for privacy concerns) and I if we wanted to work with Retail Detail Merchandising, A merchandising company that does various different types of work on behalf of several well established grocery store chains
When we heard about this exciting opportunity we jumped on board as part time Employees. We worked in many different grocery stores putting together sun care Displays and doing various other type of resets.
In March of the same year we were advised that they had nothing else but would keep In touch with us. December of this past year after several months of contacting Retail Detail Merchandising they finally had more work come up.
January 7 I unfortunately was injured while working on the job at PUBLIX doing work on behalf of RDM. At first I really was hesitant about filing workers compensation because I have heard of people getting terminated so I held off. A Couple of days after my work related injury I received a "NEW CONTRACT" from Retail Detail Merchandising advising me that I would be now classified as a "Sub Contractor" and I would no longer be covered under workers compensation and was responsible for paying my own taxes. I was hesitant at signing this two page document and because they owed me money I signed January 10 I was back at work because the company needed the work completed even though they new I was seen and treated at the hospital the day prior and that I needed to relax.
February 2 I thought it was a good idea to files workers compensation since at the time of injury I Was considered an EMPLOYEE and Not Sub contractor and I did not have all the money needed to pay my medical bills. Three hours after filing my workers compensation claim I was TERMINATED. Terminated for being a distraction (Which sometimes I can not help because of having Attention Deficit disorder), which my roommate stated to James Francis who happens to be the director of retail operations during our training session in Jacksonville, FL. James also mentioned that it took so to long for us to go from one store to another. The real reason for me being terminated was I believe was in retaliation in paying workers compensation because according to Beth Keller, Office Manager at RDM they don't want to have to pay more for Workers compensation. I also believe they violate some major rules such as violating the American with disabilities act (ADHD)
One other big issue remains is all of us had to attend a training session that the company said we would be paid for. Once we were Terminated I never saw this money which I believe is totally incorrect, another big issue is according to the Retail Detail merchandising website http://www.rdmerchandising.com they (RDM) does not hire subcontractors and everyone representing RDM are Company employees.
NO person in the world should have to have gone thru what I have Experienced, Company officials keep informing me if I want any information about me being terminated to contact their legal counsel which happens to be a lawyer.
Should you have any further questions, comments please feel free to contact me via my website:
Jon
JACKSONVILLE, Florida
U.S.A.
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