Whole Foods Worker Fired for Stopping Shoplifter
Grocery worker John Schultz was fired for stopping a shoplifter. The saga began when Schultz heard a manager calling out for help in stopping a shoplifter. A group responded, but the shoplifter got away. Schultz caught up to him and held him, intending to wait until police arrived. Schultz released the man upon the manager’s insistence, and the shoplifter got away.
Schultz was called to the store’s office on Christmas Eve, and was fired, apparently for violating a company policy prohibiting employees from touching a customer.
He says he would do it again though. John Schultz said this about his experience:
The fact I worked at the store is coincidental, If I had went over to the book store on my break and they were being ripped off, I would have helped them.
Whole Foods spokeswoman Kate Klotz said this about the incident:
The fact that he touched him, period, is means for termination.
I think it sets a bad precedent when a person gets punished for doing the right thing. More and more people will hesitate before helping someone in distress.
And since when is a shoplifter a customer?
I think the problem is with our legal justice system. “The fact that he touched him, period, is means for termination,” is also grounds for this thief to sue the store for some crazy reason and cost the store no telling how much in legal fee’s “assuming” they win. The store’s position would have to be, let the guy have the can of spam, its not worth getting sued over. It’s sad.
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You’re right, I am sure Whole Foods has this policy in place to protect them from lawsuits. It is unfortunate how many greedy people and their lawyers bring frivolous lawsuits. There have been cases of people purposely falling over and over in grocery stores, in order to sue. This woman was caught on tape pouring olive oil on the floor and later returning and “slipping” on it:
http://wcbstv.com/watercooler/Florida.lawsuit.grocery.2.287437.html
I think Whole Foods should have used common sense in this situation, rather than sticking to the letter of the law. They probably fired Mr. Schultz out of fear, but this wasn’t a sleazy employee “improperly touching” a customer, it was an employee trying to protect his company from a thief. This employee was looking out for them, and they should have at least given him another chance.