Hubby got fired!!

[MPTDAT]

Well, my DH got fired Friday from his job of five and a half years at Costco. No written warning, no verbal warning and a week before Christmas. He was changing tires in the tire shop and another guy he worked with pointed out that tires he was taking off of another guys car would fit DH's car and they were in better shape. He set them aside. DH went into work last Sunday and decided, after no sleep at all, that he would put them on his car. He figured they were just exchanging scrap tires for scrap tires. They still had the same amount of tires for the recycling guy and they weren't missing any inventory. Apparently a manager had noticed them sitting to the side and once they were gone, asked where they were. He then proceded to send someone out to the parking lot and check everyone's tires. They said if whoever did it would come forward, they would be easy on them. DH, being the most honest guy I have ever met, told them figuring he would get written up. He didn't want to get his friend in trouble for setting them to the side though. He was told on Monday that he was suspended for three days and when he went to a meeting Friday, they fired him. What kind of a company would fire someone who has worked there for 5 years without a warning a week before Christmas?? The worst part is the fact that there have been worse things that have been done by employees and they have kept their jobs. For instance, the supervisor before him in the tire shop had given away a brand new set of tires to a relative and he kept his job and ended up getting moved up to manager. I am so frustrated right now!!!

[tlhdoc]

I am so sorry to hear this.  What a rotten thing to have happen.   Is there any chance he could get his job back?  I am guessing Costco isn't a union employer.

[AustinBoston]

In a lot of companies, theft and misreporting of hours (really, just a form of theft) are the only things that will get you fired.

I once saw someone with a national company loose his job because he picked up a nail, put it in his pocket, and brought it home.  From that point on, I have never taken anything...not even a pencil...from anybody I have ever worked for.

If there is a reasonable "transaction" to be made, it can always be checked with management.  But get the answer in writing first.

If your husband has a lawyer contact CostCo, they may decide it's cheaper and easier to take him back if he "pays" for the tires.  Barring that, it should be possible to get the termination changed from "with cause" (fired) to "without cause" (laid off).  The distinction is important, because a "with cause" termination means NO UNEMPLOYMENT.

Austin

[brainpause]

I'm not so sure I agree with the procedure myself. Even if it is all legal, it just doesn't seem right. I'm sorry to hear about this, right at Christmas. I do hope that he finds another job soon. If your husband is a good worker, he will find one soon.

Larry

[cam]

Sorry to hear the news, that is just awful.  

Sounds like that 'manager' thought the tires would fit his car too and jealous when someome beat him to them.

[Trlrboy]

He should have asked if it was OK.  Probably would still be working there.

[Miss-Teri]

That is so sad.  I'm truly sorry!  
I'll keep you guys in my prayers tonight.  I hope he gets his job back, but if not maybe something better will come along - it often does!

[SheBantam]

Trlrboy said what I was thinking. Sometimes getting management's OK makes all the difference in the world. I am very sorry for you all, especially this time of year. I guess by "going easy" they meant that they would not contact the authorities.

I am very very careful. I work for a State Agency and all their "stuff" has special code tags. When I bring something in, I let my supervisors and administrators know that they are mine (extension cords, shelves, etc...) I know I could get fired for stealing and loose my pension. Too big of risk for small items...

[camphost]

Can he talk with management and ask if he can pay for the tires?  Tell them he did not understand that he was stealing the tires.  That he really thought that he was swapping junk tires for junk tires.  Maybe they will count this time off as suspension time.  It cannot hurt to ask, it is embarrassing but better than being unemployed at this point.  I am really sorry for this happening to you both.  I can understand that he did not think he was stealing at the time, but maybe now he can see their side too.  Maybe they can still work it out.  I will keep you both in my prayers.

[birol]

Sorry to hear about the incident, can't be too careful these days with that kind of stuff.

Once while my manager was on vacation, I borrowed a printer for use at home for work purposes via my manager's manager approval (A VP ). When my manager came back he promptly fired me for abusing my position (he obviously didn't like me much). I even had a written permission memo from his manager, but as his manager was on vacation at that time, I was fired, on the spot, the same day he comes back.

After his manager arrived back, he blamed me of misusing my position in front of his manager in a final exit meeting, and asked me why I had taken the printer even though I had repeatedly told him that I had his manager's approval while he was away. I got so frusturated at last, and told him, to turn to his left and ask his manager why I took the printer. I was hired back after three weeks of sitting at home, but what an ordeal it was.

I hope he might be able to somehow work it out with Costco before it is too late and evetyhing is cast on stone.

[Acts 2:38 girl]

What I want to know is why his "buddy" who gave him the idea in the 1st place isn't speaking up for him to management?  Even if he goes in there and says, "Listen guys, I didn't think it was a big deal either, I was trying to help him out"  Even if he didn't do it, the other guy needs to back up your husband so at least he can be justified.

[DiW]

I feel for you. Last Friday afternoon, as my DH was about to leave on a 2 week Christmas vacation to FL, he was told his position was being eliminated, effective immediately. This was done by the new head guy who stepped in to replace the COO (who was fired the week before). My DH's manager is also gone, as was the person who hired my DH. He was told several positions in his section were being eliminated so he's just waiting to see who else got the ax... Oh well, I guess we don't have to rush back to NJ.
Diane

[tlhdoc]

Di I am so sorry to hear about Chris.  Well he should have more time for camping now.

[Camperroo]

It's still so shaky out there with this economy!   I'm hearing of more and more stories of people getting let go and without notice too.  My DH had to let his company close down because our business was dropping off and our overhead with health insurance and liability insurance, etc. was getting very expensive.  It took him a little bit but he found a nice job with a good company that provided benefits which took a load off our shoulders!!  Hang in there...I looked in the paper everday not just the weekend help sections and happened to spy the ad for his new job midweek.   Sometimes we'd just like to sell our home, move to a less expensive part of the country buy a home where we still actually have cash left over from the house sale and open up a simple little store in a sweet little town somewhere.   Does that somewhere exist anywhere???  I don't know but there's times we'd like to find it.

[B-flat]

Yes, places exist in those sweet little towns where taxes are low.  I'm keeping it a secret.

Many are getting hit hard by bad times with companies laying off many, shutting down completely, firing and so forth.  It's a bad time of year.  I heard about a big executive who was within a week or two of retirement from a big corporation and was told he was fired without warning and was told he would get no retirement or benefits at all.  Well, he "snapped" and ended up in the psychiatric ward and now his family has a big lawsuit against that company where he had worked for many years.  That's a very sad story.
 
It's a very difficult time of the year to have things happen like losing a job during the holidays.