Did I have reason to quit my job?

[TxDieselKid]

Well thanks for all the comments guys.



First off I dont really want to work there, they accused me of stealing, and you don't do that unless you KNOW they have done it, and I KNOW i have not. So they can kiss of with whatever they want to think. I know for a fact that I will not, and have never wanted to live in this area now, or then. Sears is NOT where i want to be all my life, maybe some like it, but not I.



Next a total of 4 people were let go of yesterday. That tells me that it was not really the stealing thing.



Camaras in this Sears store didn't work too good. Too good means that some worked, and some didn't.



As far as what some have said about the manager having a bad day, they kept saying how it was such a long day, and they had not ate lunch, or dinner, and it was 8:30 at night, and "we have been doing so many of these meetings today", so I think that had something to do with it also. The lady had to get up at 3:30AM to drive back to Tulsa today, the day after.



Andrew

 

[Steve M]

Sounds like a grievance to me. This is when a basic union of hourly employees would be appropriate. Not to demand CEO pay... Just so that hourly employees would have some representation when management pulls their BS as in this case. I don't know if you stole anything or not. But you could use some representation about now. Since you have no union representation, your next course of action might be to contact the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) and see what they can do for you since you were coerced into quitting with threats to your character and integrity. Management bullied you into quitting so they wouldn't have to fire you if what you say is true.

Even with union representation, I've had management BS pulled on me a couple of times. I didn't quit or file a grievance. As long as my paycheck keeps coming every Friday, I'll keep showing up for work. When they call me a thief or a liar, I consider the source. It would be like Clinton calling me a womanizer. Consider the source. I'm there for the same reason they are. The money. If that dries up or I find I can make more elsewhere, then I'll quit.

But since you already shot the moon to Sears, may you find employment opportunities with better pay and working atmosphere.

 

[Doc Tinker]

The way I see it, you have two choices:



1. Do what moparguy suggested and go back to work, if they will even take you back, seeing as they are or have continued to clean house.



2. Get on with your life and quit worrying about it - Don't look back.





You're a young man and have a lot of life to live. Take this experience as a lesson in life and continue to grow. You don't really have much to lose by leaving Sears. At another time in your life you will handle situations like that differently, like when you have family to consider.



Good luck with your schooling and with the next part-time job that comes along.



Doc

 

[gitchesum]

Trust me, I quit a job under MUCH worse conditions. We actually came to punches in the middle of the plant.

Keep walking and don't look back. Another job will come along. You were looking for a job when you found that one.



Contrary to media news, there are plenty of jobs out there. If you need a job, and are willing to do a little legwork, you can find one that pays just as much if not more. If that wasn't true, the Hosuton Chronicle employment section wouldn't have 3 full sections larger than most city papers.





Not sure about Nache... oh however you spell that place.

 

[JR2]

Don't look back. It was a part time job that you probably never wanted to have anyway. Working at Sears for a while during college is not something I would even mention on a resume after you graduate.

 

[Skydiver]

Offer to take a polygraph

TxDieselKid,

Its probably too late now but what I say when anybody accuses me of wrong doing is this.

Let me take a polygraph test and lets make it interesting. If I fail i will pay you $500 and the cost of the test ($125 around here)If I pass the test you pay the $ 625.

So far I can't get anyone to take me up on the offer.

But last month my friend had some personal goods stolen and he knew it was one of two people. He asked them to take the test and the one who stole from him admitted to it without even taking the polygraph. My friend apologized to the other person for thinking it was them and that person said they understood.

Tim

 

[TxDieselKid]

Hope I did the right thing still,

I had a friend who servered with the Houston Police Department for 12 years. He retired and they asked him to come back 2 years later. He agreed and one thing he had to do was take a poly. His results came back saying that he is a child molester, and addicted to crack. Kida funny if you know the guy. Long story short I think they read what the person giving them want to think. I'm I mistaken in thinking that they can not be used in a court of law still?



Anderw

 

[Steve M]

Way back in the '70s, a friend and I (both 15) were accused of breaking into a house by the owner's 10 yr old son. He described clothes that we were wearing that we didn't even own. We agreed to take a polygraph test to put it all behind us. We both failed so said the cops. $700 later in attorney fees and days of harrassment in the interigation room, (Heck no I didn't crack under the cop's insistance that if I admitted it I would get a lighter punishment and they had all the evidence they needed to give me the maximum punishment. I just learned that cops are professional liars) the kid finally admitted that he lost his house key and broke into his own house and fingered us so he wouldn't get his butt tore up for breaking the window. So to this day I don't trust cops or polygraph tests.

 

[Skydiver]

I have never taken a polygraph test nor would I trust it. But when most people hear "polygraph TEST" it strikes a nerve.

Sort of a mental thing.

 

[MDW]

Andrew, I have got your punishment worked out, I think you should have polish my turbo every week for a year... ... . LOL

 

[gitchesum]

Sorry MDW,

I've already got his punishment all lined up. I need someone to pull the transmission on the Beast. He's a young guy, I'm sure he could do it better than this old guy.

Apparently, he's got a lot of good Craftsman tools we can use.



Of course you know I'm just ribbin ya Andrew. About the tools that is, not the transmission.

 

[danandamy]

The real reason

Come on, the REAL reason is you've been sneaking over to the computer dept. and getting on TDR chat while on the clock



Seriously though, it has been my experience that when an outfit or boss has made up their mind to get rid of you, it doesn't matter what you do or don't do they are going to get rid of you. I say frell it, you were looking for a job when you found that one.



notworking@sears dan

 

[Ben Rumson]

I agree with Don M, Bill, and Partiot because...

I'm a Human Resource Professional - PHR Certification (similar to a CPA in accounting) and the whole works.



I'm in this profession to help make work environments the best they can be and to promote the value of employees and help corporations realize that people truely are their most valuable asset.



As for quitting... can't say I don't blame you. From an employment law perspective, hold your ground next time and force them to make a decision . This puts you in a better light for Unemployment, Wrongful Discharge, Constructive Discharge, Inconsistent application of discipline, etc. Unfortunately, by your quitting, you let them off the hook to a large degree. Please don't misunderstand, I'm not being critical. Again, can't say whereas I blame you, BUT stay cool, even if it makes you madder than he!!. Buy yourself enough time to quit on your terms completely and force their hand if they decide otherwise.



PM me if you want to discuss this further and I'll help all I can. No need to air too much in public. I'd need to know all the facts surrounding their allegtions and working arrangements in order to see if you still might have claim against them or not.



Probably not worth it at this point.



You're a GREAT guy and are a TREMENDOUS asset to the TDR members - actively helping out where ever you can. This is a done deal and you'll learn from this.



Good Luck Andrew !!

 

[Champane Flight]

E.E.O.C.

If you want them to sweat a little, contact, Equal Opportunity Employment Commision. Tell them you were accused unjustly of stealing. Also tell them any other indiscriminant act they have pulled on you since employment. Let them do the sweating and you can move on. They will ask you if any monies were lost. Figure your wages lost to the point that you are now.



About thirty years ago I worked as a trucking supervisor for Sears. They have a nasty habit of forcing out anyone who has a mind of thier own. My guys were working 15-18 hours a day and getting below average wages. The trucking outfits in the larger citys with Sears were Union. So I told my guys that this was an option for them. The next week I had a doctor appointment over my lunch hour. I left at 12:00 noon and was back by 1:15pm. Fifteen minutes late! I was met by the store manager at the time clock and was told not to even try to clock back in! He said he had contacted my supervisor and was told to "Send me down the road". "Tardiness was not tolerated!". I told him that I had not ever missed work or been late in the two years I had worked there. No answer. So I told him he was a piece of crap and left.



Later found out my boys had contacted the Union in Denver and told them I suggested it. The Union man contacted the company for permission to meet on store property with the guys. The store said they would have to talk to me and he said " Oh he was the one who told these men it was OK".



Well I know now they broke the law, but believe me when I say 90% of large companys do this everyday. Make em sweat, maybe they will think before they try it again. And you never know they may have to hire you back with back pay. Then you can quit again or make thier lives miserable while your there... ...

 

[TxDieselKid]

golly, made my day......

I had to in today to pick upmy paycheck, still got one more comming in 2 weeks. When I walked into the office the girl behind the desk said...



"They had me pull transactions on everyone, and yours were some of the cleanest. I told them I had nothnig on you, and then I told them that it was B. S. cause your one of the hardest workers in the store. "



I asked about the stealing money part and she said... .



"I told them that was complete B. S. too because no proof of it was found of you, it was ******(fellow worker who was not let go of)"



Just kinda was nice to hear someone defended me.



First off big thanks to Mr. Ben Rumson ffor his post. WOW that ending made my day again. I have never met you, but I will gladly shake your hand when I do.



Champane,

Thanks for the story, maybe next time I will look at the union for my next job.



Mike,

Speaking of turbo? I'll be there tommorw!



Curtis,

Just cause I got the right TOOL for any job I do is no reason to make me work for you lack of having the right tool!



NapaDan,

The real reason is my realdoll had to be shipped to a reciving dock, and the store was the only one I knew of!



Andrew

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by moparguy As Bill pointed out, quitting will be seen as an admission of guilt by management. If a sizeable amount of money was involved (I know, not the case), Sears would file charges. But it aint't gonna happen here because it's just to much trouble.

Well, management sees denial itself as an admission of guilt. Management sees silence as an admission of guilt. Quitting is an admission of guilt. Confession of the dirty deed is an admission of guilt.



Basically, management need no reason at all to harrass someone into quitting if they (mgmt) don't have the cajones to fire the employee outright. Far too many managers have faulty ethics, or none at all.



In my humble experience, the ratio of good managers to bad managers is less than 0. 1.



Tx, whether you said nothing, or went nuclear has no bearing. They accused you without cause. Without evidence. At your age, I would have quietly denied their allegations and gone back to work. A few years ago, I would have told them to stick their heads up each others bung holes and left.



Today, I would almost carry a digital recorder with me at all times, capable of hours of recordings and say absolutely nothing. to the inquisitors. I would make a copy and send it to the chairman of the corporation, CEO, HR and any other high-up groups, clearly identifying myself and await a response. *Then* I would walk out without a word.



Given your relative youth and experience, you did the right thing. You *don't* ever want to work for anyone who will blindly accuse you of doing wrong. In the future, if you can't record evidence of such harrassment, simply walk out and never look back.



Don't forget your friends there, though, if they're worth keeping. I still keep in touch with a few friends from Motorola, though I will never again work for that company if I can at all help it.



There is a serious lack of ethics in Corporate America. Budgets, customers and employees are merely problems to be shuffled around. Profit is everything. (Government is almost identical: budgets. citizens and employees are merely problems to be shuffled around. ) Sears management are no different than those of any other large corporation.



Hmmm. Is my bottom-of-sewer veiw of management apparent? Sorry. I can't help being so negative.



You did the right thing. Walk out, keep walking and never look back. Get another job. And another. And another, until you learn what the game is. *Then* decide if you want to play the game or not. Took me too long to learn the game. It's been two years since I quit and I *still* have no desire to play the game or even get anywhere *near* the playng field. Don't you take more than five years to learn what the game is. And, once you learn, let your principles and scruples guide you.



Fest3er

 

[bighammer]

Sounds to me like some old fart with a bug in his keester wanted to trim the staff. Getting a guy so pi$$ed off that he quits and just goes away quietly may be what they had in mind. Some places it 's tough to let somebody go when they haven't done anything wrong. Doing it this way, you can ignore seniority, performance, etc. and pick who goes.



It sucks, I know. You will find something better.

 

[Champane Flight]

Workforce

In the last forty + years in the workforce, several jobs and multiple career changes, I have had two good supervisors. Two! And one of those is questionable, the one I have now.....

 

[PRout]

Its like they say, if you know your right, you have to stand up for it now.



If you dont, you'll always kick yourself in the a. . later.



Id make them prove it, or get off the pot. While theyre doing the research, they just might find the real LOW-LIFE CREEP, and owe you one He!! of an apology.



Theres a time to walk away, when its not worth it, and a time to stand up for your reputation. Theres no right or wrong, just what you can live with.



If this incident is just a symptom of a deeper problem (like you just dont fit in w/ these people), its better to get out anyways.



There are good jobs out there that dont just hand out scheduled raises to everyone whether they perform or not. They give raises & promotions because of hard work & what you do for them.



Those have been the most satisfying for me, because you can get somewhere if you have the right attitude, and avoid personality conflicts - period!



The people that can make things happen & work around slugs, obstacles, & troublemakers, sooner or later, eventually do get somewhere. On their own.

 

[Sled Puller]

Notice the poll is 50-50.



One side you have the hot heads, the bridge burners.



On the other, you have the "walk quietly and carry a big stick, because if you mess with me ******, I'm going to take your world apart and you will never see it coming. "

hehehe