Yesterday, i was off and unfortunutly had to stop by kroger (not the one i work at) to get a few things. I paid for my items and left with my things in hand. well, suddenly i heard "stop! Kroger security." I ignored the call because when its my off time i don't really give a care what goes on. suddenly, i feel a hand grab me from behind and try and get me into a hold. My first reaction was to take a swing. which i did. i punched the guy as a reflex as i whirled around. well, i got escorted back into the store and the cops were called. they checked my bag and saw that i had a receipt and then let me go. the security guy that got slammed wasn't about to do that. luckily the cops sided with me, and said that had security let me know they were behind me about to apprehend, then he might have not been socked in the jaw. i left. management of that store apologized, i told security i was NOT going to apologize to them at all. how they handled the situation was wrong.
go in to work today; as soon as i clock in, management in my store calls me in the office and asks about the incident i had at another store. I tell him the story. i ask what is wrong and he says security is looking to get me removed. Not from that particular store but from the entire company, the procedures have started. I tell him that it was that one security guard that started the whole thing, and that he was pissed because i refused to apologize for hitting him. i then said i heard him say "stop kroger security." but being as there were other people coming out i figured he was speaking to one of them. Management then said "security did handle it wrong, but you did hit the guy. so we are giving you two days off." they said it was not a suspension...but how the hell is it not?? they say im getting time off for smacking security, who handled the situation wrong and laid hands on me first.
a co-worker said that more then likely, they will be getting my walking papers prepped and ready to go, they'll call me in to get my last check before giving me my walking papers. I have already contacted my union rep just in case something like this goes down. co worker also said that if i had not struck back, security would have gotten in trouble for mishandling not me. now he may get a slap on the wrist and i get "das boot." as my co worker states.
Edit: the security guy that grabbed me, was a plain dressed guy. he said "kroger security" (thats how i found out he was talking to me after all) after he grabbed me and tried to get me into the hold. im NOT sorry i decked him. My brother said i should get a lawyer in case this thing goes further, he doesn't see that it will and that ill have my job back.
technically you are still a representative of the company on or off the clock. as for being terminated for striking a security officer, its hard to say. being as the other management said they made a mistake, chances are they reviewed the tapes and saw that you purchased your items in addition to the reciept. HOWEVER...they probably found out you worked for kroger if you used your employee discount card.
Just because the kroger you were at says you will not suffer any reprocussions from the altercation, does NOT mean you will not have some disciplinary consequences at work. they CAN suspend you if they choose to. maybe you should have let the guard "manhandle" you, and for added effect, dramatize the mishandling so to draw attention. because it would be on tape, only the guard would be seen being rough and you 'complient.'
It may blow over though. they may have given you the days off to "make themselves look good" and make it look like "disciplinary action" when it fact it wasn't. my manager does this from time to time when he knows an employee is innocent but the evidence is stacked against him. Hell give the employee 2-3 days off to make it seem like the innocent employee has been disciplined, then give him extra hours to make up for it the next week.
Good luck, sounds like self defense to me. What state are you in? Should be interesting to see how the Union handles this in case management changes their mind and it goes further then a 2 day suspension.
if they were in plain clothes how were you supposed to know who was grabbing you? that is not how loss prevention does its job where i'm at. they follow you outside because until you're outside you haven't taken anything. it's not clear from your account if you actually made it through the door.
you've had problems before in your store haven't you? sounds to me like you may have issues.
I made it out the door. And security is supposed to escort you into the store, PEACEFULLY if possible. They are ONLY supposed to grab you if you fight try to run. Yea, I got union ready to go if need be
sorry that happened to you. its always been my understanding that no matter what, no Kroger employee can ever lay hands on any customer or co worker - not even in a nice way. we've been told that if we see people steal we're not allowed to approach or even accuse. I think you should look into a lawyer if they try to fire you but also look at the undue stress you have. I think you should demand the security guy be removed from the company
sorry that happened to you. its always been my understanding that no matter what, no Kroger employee can ever lay hands on any customer or co worker - not even in a nice way. we've been told that if we see people steal we're not allowed to approach or even accuse. I think you should look into a lawyer if they try to fire you but also look at the undue stress you have. I think you should demand the security guy be removed from the company
"We" are not allowed to. However, loss prevention is allowed to lay hands on them once a potential thief meets certain specific criteria in their behavior. This security guy was just doing his job. Not very well, mind you. But it was his job nonetheless.
They reviewed the tapes and he was in the wrong 100%. I asked what would happen to the other guy and they said " Don't worry about it." Which I assume means: "he got a slap on the wrist, and a 10 minute time out." :/
I'm in management and let me tell you, you have DEFINITE legal grounds for a lawsuit. we are never EVER supposed to touch anyone. If he made you feel like you couldn't leave, he legally arrested you. Well. In this case he illegally arrested you. Sue. Even if they didn't fire me I'd sue.
