I just got fired...

[GeneralElectric]

Wow...

Just finished my shift at work, to be called into the office. I'm fired.

I worked as a butcher in a local corporate warehouse and on Sundays I'd sell seafood on the floor. I'd occasionally give people free stuff to make them buy more. For example, lets say they wanted to buy crab legs for 6 people, which is expensive as hell. After I weigh it out, its way too much for them, and they tell me they don't want it, they can only afford less than half that. I'll say I'll charge for only 5 people's worth, and toss in a little extra.
I did it to sell more stuff, and I did, and the seafood dept. never had so much business (not to mention I was the first guy to actually follow health dept. guidelines there and actually keep fish cold)

But thats a no no, and now I'm out of a job.

So much for trying to sell more huh?

Any advice?

[fenderhutz]

You were stealing from the company (at least that's probably their angle). No advice really.

Just be lucky they didn't try and bring charges.

Update your resume.

[SBassman]

Did you get any coaching from a manager that you shouldn't be doing it, and you ignored that, or this simply went from no feedback to - fired?

If the latter, it's at a minimum - management incompetence.
It's also kinda close to - illegal.

If:
- You were otherwise performing well
- They are not eliminating your position
Then:
- Firing you for this, without coaching, is not very kosher.

[TheDarkReaver]

If you wanna do that you've got to get persmission from the people who employ you. If you'ld gone to management and pitched the idea it could of worked out better for your current employment status.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Did you get any coaching from a manager that you shouldn't be doing it, and you ignored that, or this simply went from no feedback to - fired?

If the latter, it's at a minimum - management incompetence.
It's also kinda close to - illegal.

If:
- You were otherwise performing well
- They are not eliminating your position
Then:
- Firing you for this, without coaching, is not very kosher.

IT's not illegal, if you steal it's grounds to be fired. Though since it may have helped sales perhaps management could have evaluated the situation more.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

If you wanna do that you've got to get persmission from the people who employ you.

For every business that works that way, there are several who believe in empowered employees who add value to the business by thinking creatively.

I have - seriously - been taught all my life:
- It's easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission

[It's a highly desirable trait in an employee - for Some companies, anyway.]

[JB Lars]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

You were stealing from the company. No advice really.

Just be lucky they didn't try and bring charges.

Update your resume.

Not how I'd put it -- he didn't take things from the company for himself -- but that's just a matter of semantics. You're right, though, the food wasn't his to give away at any price other than that set by his employer. Now, a better employer might've seen the bigger picture, and perhaps the next one will be more flexible (or GE will be less so).

GE, that sucks. I hope you're back on your feet tout de suite. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

IT's not illegal, if you steal it's grounds to be fired. Though since it may have helped sales perhaps management could have evaluated the situation more.

We have very different views of stealing. That's not stealing.
He wasn't taking it home. He was nurturing relationships with customers in a competitive world.

If I were his manager, his behavior would be Exactly what I would desire. And, the stats on generating business from it speak for themselves.

[Pilgrim]

The OP never said what reason was given - if any - for his release. It could be that what he was doing was regarded as a good sales technique by the store and it was not part of the reason.

There is no data, therefore, no comment except - get out there and find another position, slugger! There have to be a lot of stores looking for your talents!

[jrthebassguy]

That sucks. Maybe you can get GE to give you money for pimping out their name everywhere?

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by SBassman

For every business that works that way, there are several who believe in empowered employees who add value to the business by thinking creatively.

I have - seriously - been taught all my life:
- It's easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission

[It's a highly desirable trait in an employee - for Some companies, anyway.]

Oh I agreem initiative is great. But when you're initiative involves giving away stock it can get messy as it's grounds for instant dismissal, which is exactly what seems to have happened here.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

Oh I agreem initiative is great. But when you're initiative involves giving away stock it can get messy as it's grounds for instant dismissal, which is exactly what seems to have happened here.

Well, I'll meet you half way. At the very least, there had to be something in writing or something verbal stating that giving away stock was grounds for dismissal. Remember, this was not an electronics store - it was food. It's Very common in the food industry to do Exactly what he described.

The same goes on all the time in good bar/grills. People get comp'd - sometimes significantly - to keep them coming back.

This all depends on what he was told or given to read in advance of the action. If there was no written or verbal guidance, then I'd still assert what he did should Not have gotten him fired.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by SBassman

We have very different views of stealing. That's not stealing.
He wasn't taking it home. He was nurturing relationships with customers in a competitive world.

If I were his manager, his behavior would be Exactly what I would desire. And, the stats on generating business from it speak for themselves.

But you weren't his manager, not all managers think alike. I mentioned that the situation could have been evaluated differently.

[Big Joe]

The actual term for this is misappropriation of goods... It is grounds for firing.

The good news is they can't say anything bad about you by law unless you list them as a reference (different than just listing them as a former employer). All they can say is what your actual position was and confirm the period you worked there.

Get another job. You learned your lesson.

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by SBassman

Well, I'll meet you half way. At the very least, there had to be something in writing or something verbal stating that giving away stock was grounds for dismissal. Remember, this was not an electronics store - it was food. It's Very common in the food industry to do Exactly what he described.

The same goes on all the time in good bar/grills. People get comp'd - sometimes significantly - to keep them coming back.

This all depends on what he was told or given to read in advance of the action. If there was no written or verbal guidance, then I'd still assert what he did should Not have gotten him fired.

Maybe, we're just speculating without knowing company policies or employment contracts.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by Big Joe

The actual term for this is misappropriation of goods. Grounds for firing.

Strong words - and not relevant in All industries.

Sheesh - I'm glad you guys are not serving me at the local bar/grill.

This is not a black and white thing in all business. Sorry guys.

[GeneralElectric]

I was fired for giving people extra food. I wasn't told to do it, and I wasn't told not to either. Most of my previous jobs have been in restaurants (bartending, cooking, waiting) or places where my job is to get people to spend more by giving them extra (music stores and a lumber yard)

Normally there is a coaching thing for when you screw up. They asked me to sign the coaching sheet, and then sign the termination letter. I was wondering why they asked me to sign the counseling notice if they were going to fire me.

Time to find another job that pays as well.

What is good though, is that my termination says Sec. 400, which means that, on paper, its considered a general termination, and I can still use them as a reference. I don't know if I'd want to or not.

The manager who fired me looked sad that she had to fire me, but she said she didn't have a choice as it was against corporate policy.

FYI when I started there were 4 pallet sized bins with stinking seafood because no one kept it cold, or cleaned the tanks. It was disgusting. Since I started working there I've gotten more items (what customers have asked for) and 2 more bins to sell out of.

I still don't think I did anything wrong.

Bleh.

Anyone know how long I'd have to be employed before I can collect unemployment?

[Big Joe]

misappropriation:

to apply wrongfully or dishonestly, as funds entrusted to one's care.

It does apply here. He was fired for it. You can get so much from a car dealer and beyond a certain amount it usually requires management approval.

A bartender can usually give a couple of complimentary drinks here and there but if it's not OK with management, then it won't fly for long especially if it's cutting into profit.

You yap that your dinner was late and cold and it's up to the manager of the restaurant to compensate you, not the waiter.

This was enough to be noticed by mangement and then for them to take action. Nothing illegal about what management did no matter how you spin it. Could they have gone about it better than they did? Sure. Did they have to? No. GE gave away things that weren't his to give away.

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

)

Normally there is a coaching thing for when you screw up. They asked me to sign the coaching sheet, and then sign the termination letter. I was wondering why they asked me to sign the counseling notice if they were going to fire me.

Anyone know how long I'd have to be employed before I can collect unemployment?

You can't collect unemployment for getting fired.

They were covering their butt, I wouldn't have signed the coaching sheet.

They have proof now they coached you on the issue and fired you for reason.

When the state goes and asks them why you are unemployed they will show them that sheet.

Unemployment will be denied.

[SBassman]

The fact that they gave you a coaching sheet to sign on the day of your termination - is clear indication that this smells - and it's not the smell of fish.

OP: I'll continue to disagree with some of the people here.
I think you were handled inappropriately.

I don't know the size of the company, and whether or not they have an HR dept. But, I really think you should:

- Send a formal letter to HR or some other manager stating that you were upset at the time of the termination, and you rescind your agreement/signature of the coaching sheet.

- If the company has a wrongful termination review policy - and they're supposed to - I would make a formal request in writing to open a wrongful termination review. It won't necessarily get your job back - you probably don't want it back now - but it could at least change the official record on the t's and c's of your termination and exactly what did and did not happen leading up to it. [Translation: your supervisors screwed up more than you did.]

I can tell you that in a major corporation - where I have spent all my life in several - what you described
- Is Absolutely worthy of at least a post termination review/investigation
- Would lead to severe discipline or termination for the supervising manager