Wal-Mart
Terrible place

I had been given a written 'coaching' for something that had nothing to do with why I was terminated. The written occurred on 28 Oct. Then on 20 Nov I was called to the management office where I was met by two Assistant Managers. One informed me that I was being terminated for not taking a break on 11-10 & 11-14, and that I had taken personal items to the area that I worked in.

I seldomly missed taking a break and sometimes when I did I did so in my assigned area. Even though I told the Assistant Managers that I did take a break, when I used the facilities, got a drink, took medications or sat in the area without doing work. Then I was informed on 11-20 that I had to be out of the area for 15 minutes, that I could not take breaks in the area.

Additionally I told them why I was carrying my personal bag, but one retorted '... You're not suppose to have any personal items. You were seen eating Yogurt (I don't eat yogurt), drinking and getting spray from your bag.' I again explained, what I had done and yes I did have snacks but not yogurt and I did get spray from my bag. The spray was Fabreze, I had been using it ever since I was there as a matter of fact the day associate had been using Oust in the area which I can't handle with my asthma. She said Fabreze would be fine. I retrieved the bottle from my bag because the one we had in the area was empty. I sprayed it and exchanged it for the empty bottle.

The store's Loss Protection individual made copies from the security films, which were dated and timed, showing me performing my assigned responsibilities in my work area. It also showed that I had taken my 'personal' bag, which had my various medications, snacks and a small bottle of room spray.

I had taken my personal bag with me since an episode in the break room in October that made me feel insecure with leaving my stuff in there and the fact that I had multiple medications, some which were used in a nebulizing machine that was also in this area.

On multiple occasions, various Assistant Managers as well as the Store Manager, Co-Manager and other individuals witnessed me taking my personal bag to my work area. None of these individuals questioned why. None said...'don't do that.' I must add that there are no CBL's or specific written guidelines for this area. Its a judgment call as far as I am concerned. Especially since others in this area had since I've been assigned there doing what I had done.

In the time that I was in the area I and others assigned there had been taking breaks in the area, using spray and eating snacks. But that wasn't the way it was suppose to be... According to the Assistant Manager on the 20th. I had done what the others had been doing but I am the only one fired.

Yes it is true that I had a written for something that had nothing to do with the reason listed on the termination sheet. But I feel that the WM corporate office was pissed off because: 1) they had to pay overtime because the local managers failed to enter 8 hours on my work week in the appropriate week 1 of the schedule, thus making week 2 go into overtime; 2) that ever since I had been in that area I had clocked out when my work was done, sometimes 15 minutes early—no one said I could not do this and it did not become an issue until after the 28 Oct written was issue; 3) that corporate wanted to separate me because of the Oct incident but they had to tred lightly and were thus 'gunning' for me.

I must note that after the Assistant Manager terminated me, she told me to make sure I re-apply in 6 months. Now I find out WM is fighting my unemployment claim.

Company: Wal-Mart
Country: USA
Site: walmart.com

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