What would you do??

[gemmy]

I was recently transferred to a store that my district manager said was struggling. I was told it would be a good opportunity for me, since it is higher volume and needs some help in areas that I am great at. I accepted the offer (it was just a lateral move), and I have uncovered several things that the store manager is doing that is blatantly wrong and against company policy. Now, I consider myself an ethical person and I plan on staying this way. I also have been through several loss prevention investigations and have seen people get fired for just knowing something was occurring in the store. I have seen this store manager manipulate his shrink numbers, manipulate inventory, manipulate payroll and even steal fixtures/unsaleable product. I have even seen him almost fire someone without getting all the facts (I stopped him and made him not fire the associate). This manager has been with the company for several years and the other managers seem to think his behavior is OK. So, this brings me to the question what would you do?

 

[meowzer]

Well I would set up a meeting with the District Manager and make him aware of this....I'm not the close your eyes type
What is your position exactly?

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384682
Well I would set up a meeting with the District Manager and make him aware of this....I'm not the close your eyes type
What is your position exactly?
Well, I have spoken with my DM and I have emailed him several statements which have been forwarded to LP and HR. I just cannot put my job on the line to save someone else's.

 

[beth]

I would keep your nose clean and away from any misbehavior; of course that goes without saying that you will do that, and basically take care of your own business. Get out of that store ASAP. If there is a way to report misconduct without the finger pointing at you, then do that. Wistleblowers rarely come out on top of the situation, even if the law backs them.
I remember that you brought this store switch up awhile ago. I don't know what store you work for, but perhaps your talents can be better appreciated at a competing store.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beth http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384685
I would keep your nose clean and away from any misbehavior; of course that goes without saying that you will do that, and basically take care of your own business. Get out of that store ASAP. If there is a way to report misconduct without the finger pointing at you, then do that. Wistleblowers rarely come out on top of the situation, even if the law backs them.
I remember that you brought this store switch up awhile ago. I don't know what store you work for, but perhaps your talents can be better appreciated at a competing store.
I am definitely staying clear for any misbehavior. Unfortunately, at this point it would be extremely difficult for me to transfer out of this store (not many people are willing to work in the city). Luckily, I have a great rapport with my DM for the most part. The store he sent me to was recently added to his district and he knew the store had issues but did not know to what extent. He thought it would be a good experience for my to work in a higher volume store that had issues with processing their trucks and making the store look good.
I am looking for another job, but it is hard to find a job making the money I am making.

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384683
Well, I have spoken with my DM and I have emailed him several statements which have been forwarded to LP and HR. I just cannot put my job on the line to save someone else's.
Never put anything in writing...LOL...That's my motto
ALSO....Look out for #1...YOU....BUT you also mentioned that someone was fired for knowing what was going on.....and not reporting it...that is what I would worry about
as Beth said....keep your nose clean.....and maybe look for another job.....Probably be hard, BUT seems like you are in a really shi**y situation

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384689
Never put anything in writing...LOL...That's my motto
ALSO....Look out for #1...YOU....BUT you also mentioned that someone was fired for knowing what was going on.....and not reporting it...that is what I would worry about
as Beth said....keep your nose clean.....and maybe look for another job.....Probably be hard, BUT seems like you are in a really shi**y situation
I have seen 9 people fired for knowing what was going on and not reporting it (12 people fired altogether manager wise). I think that is reason enough to speak up, but this dude has like 10+years with the company. How could someone get away with this type of behavior for that long?
I never wanted to go to the store, but I wanted the challenge. I sincerely regret it now.

BTW, not a good idea to hit a parked car in a parking lot while you are in uniform at a store for the company you work with and then have to meet with your DM in said store. There was minimal damage to the cars and she let me go. I think I was distracted.

 

[stdreb27]

It all depends, I used to work for a manager who was amazing. Number's went up when he took over, was an good moral person, took care of his personnel. The thing is, he would "break" all sorts of draconian rules to do so. (basically he was running the store like it was his own store using his good judgment) Anyway the DM hated him, (imo discrimination of a religious person but that is another story) nitpicked him to death and finally was able to run him off over some trumped up BS. (literally he made a several thousand dollar sale, but didn't ask for permission to lower the the price of a product from something like an 85% gpm to 75% gpm. (I don't remember the exact number but it was something ridiculous like that) To a costumer that was literally 15% of our business.
After wards we had the district's "clean-up" manager come in. To clean up the "corrupt" store. Anyway, all our number's went down 20% including profit. while she made sure our store complied with company policy. It sucked. I hated it.
Fortunately for me, I graduated from college about a 6 months later, found another job.
I'm not saying that you're in that situation, but running off with stuff you'd just trash isn't that bad. Playing with the inventories and other stuff, well, you HAVE to report that, because then you get to eat it. and it would hit your P&L bonus... I"m sure you do incoming inventories. Just gotta make sure that doesn't come back and bite you in the butt.

 

[beth]

I'm not sure I understand how people get fired for knowing what is going on....? If they know and got fired, then so does management know, else they wouldn't know to fire someone. If management knows, then why not fire the problem person??
Missing something here.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beth http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384706
I'm not sure I understand how people get fired for knowing what is going on....? If they know and got fired, then so does management know, else they wouldn't know to fire someone. If management knows, then why not fire the problem person??
Missing something here.
It is hard to explain. I am talking about store managers and assistant managers getting fired. For example, the store manager would cheat his payroll and the assistant manager would know about it, but not do anything to prevent it, sort of like an accomplice after the fact. Both the store manager and assistant were let go because they both reaped the benefits of the cheated payroll. I have seen this happen a few times. Then, there were similar situations.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by stdreb27 http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384700
It all depends, I used to work for a manager who was amazing. Number's went up when he took over, was an good moral person, took care of his personnel. The thing is, he would "break" all sorts of draconian rules to do so. (basically he was running the store like it was his own store using his good judgment) Anyway the DM hated him, (imo discrimination of a religious person but that is another story) nitpicked him to death and finally was able to run him off over some trumped up BS. (literally he made a several thousand dollar sale, but didn't ask for permission to lower the the price of a product from something like an 85% gpm to 75% gpm. (I don't remember the exact number but it was something ridiculous like that) To a costumer that was literally 15% of our business.
After wards we had the district's "clean-up" manager come in. To clean up the "corrupt" store. Anyway, all our number's went down 20% including profit. while she made sure our store complied with company policy. It sucked. I hated it.
Fortunately for me, I graduated from college about a 6 months later, found another job.
I'm not saying that you're in that situation, but running off with stuff you'd just trash isn't that bad. Playing with the inventories and other stuff, well, you HAVE to report that, because then you get to eat it. and it would hit your P&L bonus... I"m sure you do incoming inventories. Just gotta make sure that doesn't come back and bite you in the butt.
My biggest thing is that he is cheating associates on their payroll. I am an inventory manager and I can fix some of the issues he created, but I cannot fix the morale that he is destroying with him there.

 

[reefraff]

If you discovered these issues in the course of your regular duties you are obligated to report it and the DM should be grateful if they have any sense. If someone further down the chain were to discover it and management knew you should have caught it as well they would be completely justified in firing you. Now if you went snooping around to find this information, not such a good thing
Another thing to consider, the DM might have suspected something like this was going on and transferred you there because they thought you would discover what was going on and report it. Either case you did your job. Now let it drop unless the DM asks you about it.

 

[2quills]

Speak up, Gemmy. This is oportunity knocking. If they fire you, well then kick back and collect your unemployment while you find another job. You just got there so they can't really blame you for nowing about this for very long and not speaking up.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384715
Speak up, Gemmy. This is oportunity knocking. If they fire you, well then kick back and collect your unemployment while you find another job. You just got there so they can't really blame you for nowing about this for very long and not speaking up.
I did speak up. I never wanted to know the stuff I know about what this guy is doing. He just volunteers the information. I don't try to talk to him, I avoid him. When I have a question about something, he just divulges the stuff.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384718
I did speak up. I never wanted to know the stuff I know about what this guy is doing. He just volunteers the information. I don't try to talk to him, I avoid him. When I have a question about something, he just divulges the stuff.

No I mean go to your district manager the one who asked you to transfere. Just share your concerns and explain that you don't want what is going on in that store to come down on you in a negative way. Stick your cell phone in your pocket and get some audio evidence if you have to. They can't fire you for that when you're looking out for the companies interest. And if they do than that's a law suit waiting to happen. Like I said, you just got there not long ago so that's hardly enough time for you to be a part of the shady things that are going on. It sounds like you've already got a pretty good reputation going on with the company you should be ok. JMO

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384723
No I mean go to your district manager the one who asked you to transfere. Just share your concerns and explain that you don't want what is going on in that store to come down on you in a negative way. Stick your cell phone in your pocket and get some audio evidence if you have to. They can't fire you for that when you're looking out for the companies interest. And if they do than that's a law suit waiting to happen. Like I said, you just got there not long ago so that's hardly enough time for you to be a part of the shady things that are going on. It sounds like you've already got a pretty good reputation going on with the company you should be ok. JMO
I spoke to my DM and the matter is now in the hands of HR and LP. Funny thing it is against policy to record anything on company property.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384725
I spoke to my DM and the matter is now in the hands of HR and LP. Funny thing it is against policy to record anything on company property.
Sorry I guess I missed that earlier. And wait a minute, did you say you got let go as in fired for hitting a car? Or let go cause there was hardly any damage?

 

[gemmy]

Sorry I guess I missed that earlier.  And wait a minute, did you say you got let go as in fired for hitting a car?  Or let go cause there was hardly any damage?
 
Yup, I thought I had enough space but was wrong and grazed a Lincoln towncar. The lady was super nice. Her car was ten years old and someone hit her in the same spot before. Her car just had my paint on it and my car is missing paint on the bumper.

 

[stdreb27]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384711
My biggest thing is that he is cheating associates on their payroll. I am an inventory manager and I can fix some of the issues he created, but I cannot fix the morale that he is destroying with him there.
Well, that is just plain wrong. That was one of the things, the good manager didn't do which got him canned.
At one point, this major retailing giant I worked for, came out and said we MUST be compliant with labor laws. 15 minute breaks lunch at a certain time etc. Then pitched it as a way to take care of the employee. Then put some teeth behind it. Telling managers if they were out of compliance by more than x% of their entries, they'd be canned. And told employees the same thing.
But then said, wink wink, make sure you take care of your customers. What it turned into was we'd stay out and work, then after wards our boss would go in and take away 2 -15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch. To everyone no matter if you worked it or not. Working on a form of hourly rate + commission, we wouldn't just walk away from a sale that would make us 50-100 bucks. If we busy, but with useless sales, and tried to walk off the sales floor for break, they demanded us stay. And would dock our time anyway.
The kicker of it was, a couple people brought up the unethical behavior, which corporate made the "investigative charade" then the whistle blower people suddenly were run off...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/385755/what-would-you-do#post_3384725
I spoke to my DM and the matter is now in the hands of HR and LP. Funny thing it is against policy to record anything on company property.
I'd do it anyway, if they can you for recording illegal activity, you have legal recourse.

 

[gemmy]

I figured I'd resurrect this thread since I am hopefully leaving my job soon (and I need to vent). I have a third interview next Friday with a company that looks very promising, so my fingers are crossed that all goes well. I do have other leads out there as well.
At my current job, each week things just seem to get worse and worse. I do not think I have ever been more dissatisfied working for a company than I am now. I have met with HR several times and the store manager is still able to keep his job. I don't get paid for the hours I work, since the store manager will back out some of the extra over time that I worked. I speak up about the situation and I get told that it's my fault for not clocking out which is false since I do not miss punches. This store manager is allowed to do whatever he wants without repercussions. Now, it would not bother me if the store was operating well but it's not or even if the "second in charge" manager had a clue.