Walmart Employees Fired For Stopping Armed Robber

If you want to hear something that sounds very stupid, some Walmart employees were fired by the company for stopping an armed robber. Apparently, Walmart doesn't want other employees getting any similar ideas:

http://consumerist.com/2011/02/walmart-employees-fired-for-stopping-armed-robber.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

It's sick how companies can get away with that type of thing. I think Walmart has fired someone else for doing the same thing, not sure. Maybe if the workers has some sort of employment protections this wouldn't be happening.

You have the right to defend yourself'. What would happen if they were all killed!

It would have saved Walmart the "trouble" of firing them TR11005....sigh.

I saw this on the news the other day. It seems that these companies are more worried about someone getting hurt on the job and getting worker's comp than stopping thieves. On the interview, the people said that they were cornered and had no choice.

It sounds like there lives were one the line. I would sue walmart if I were them.

No job is worth your life. If you feel its react or die then do what you have to.

If you can run and head for cover then do that first.

While Walmart may seem like they're the bad heavy here, many businesses have the policy about their employees not interfering with someone if they are robbing the store.

I do know that a vast majority of retailers have it as a standing policy that the regular store employees not interfere, chase or prevent someone from stealing from the store or chasing after said person. Target, in particular has the policy that only their "Assets Protection" team apprehend shoplifters and the like and even then they cannot chase a shoplifter once that person reaches the edge of the property, meaning the edge of the sidewalk, just outside the door.

This kind of policy is designed to protect the safety and welfare of their employees. Not to mention the fact that retailers are fully compensated for theft items. If the shoplifter is caught, they are liable to pay the store back twice what the item is worth.

I saw it too....how awful!!

While the policy is probably a good one, no netbook is worth an employee's life, it sounds like they only did it because they felt their lives were in danger.

I would sue walmart if I were them, if this is in fact the case.

The thief drew a gun on them in a confined space. Normally if I was an employee, I would let them steal it. Never go into a confined space with a criminal.

Yep, If they wanna steal it and there is no Loss Prevention in the store, they can have it.

7-11 has the same policy. a few employees have also been fired

Technically, the employee really doesn't have a leg to stand on because you can bet that Walmart has this written into their store policy for employees to follow. I know that when I was working at Walmart that they held an open office every few months to remind every employee about the policies and procedures working for Target.


I don't mind saying that they were very adamant that if we saw a shoplifter or someone trying to steal anything from the store, opening the packaging, sticking it in their bag or pocket, that we were not allowed to confront the person or apprehend them. We were always told to use a handheld radio or pick up a store phone and contact a member of the assets protection team so they can apprehend the person as they tried to leave the store.


The one thing they were very strongly enforced about was that no store employee confront or apprehend a shoplifter. It was an automatic termination to do so because assets protection is specifically trained to apprehend, handcuff and detain the shoplifter until police arrive to deal with the person. Fact is, that these employees knowingly, probably, violated store policy by acting they did.


I do find fault with these employees because they did a foolish thing by confronting an armed robber in their store. There is nothing worth losing your life for, especially not for the wages that Walmart pays.