Retail Workers Sacked For Discouraging Shoplifters
Can we all agree that when store employees get fired for filming a brazen theft and reporting it to the police we’ve lost our way?
Good. It’s nice to agree once in a while.
Perhaps you heard, two Atlanta Lululemon employees were sacked recently after they told a trio of masked shoplifters to get out of the upscale athletic wear store and then filmed the brazen profanity-spewing punks as they headed to a getaway car with their arms full of stolen clothes.
Next, these two employees committed what appears to be anoother offense: They called the police who were able to arrest the criminals and charge them with felonies.
In doing so it’s been reported that the employees actually violated several of the Canadian company’s policies: First they didn’t simply allow the thieves to load up on goods. Second, they summoned law enforcement.
“We are not supposed to get in the way. You kind of clear path for whatever they’re going to do,” Jennifer Ferguson told local news outlet 11Alive. “And then, after it’s over, you scan a QR code. And that’s that. We’ve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. We’re not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it…
I’ll tell you what’s scarier than shopping in a store that’s had masked men looting armloads of goods: It’s buying clothing from a company that almost certainly passes on the cost of what must be rampant theft to its affluent customers.
You don’t think retailers simply absorb the cost of the thefts, did you?
Lululemon Athletica is not a big-hearted charity, it’s a publicly traded company (LULU) listed on the NASDAQ and it answers to its shareholders.
A company spokesperson confirmed for the New York Post that Lululemon indeed has a “zero-tolerance policy” concerning chasing or physically deterring thieves.
Look, no one wants retail workers to put their own safety in jeopardy when criminals burst in. But surely filming the act and calling the police ought to be commended. Not punished.
It’s also reasonable to assume that shoplifters are aware of the open-door policy that seemingly invites thieves into Lululemon stores and allows them to run out unimpeded with their all-you-can-steal merchandise without a police report.
Fox Business News reports that this was not the first time this store was hit:
The thieves had reportedly looted the location multiple times in previous months, and at one point in the video seemed to pause and consider the employee's demand before re-entering the store and grabbing more items.
"Seriously? Get out," Ferguson can be heard saying to the robbers.
"Chill, b–---, shut your ass up," one of the thieves responds.
For those who don’t shop at Lululemon, it definitely sells high-end workout and yoga wear: women’s hoodies will set you back $118, crew neck sweatshirts go for $128 and running shoes run $158.
The video became public when Ferguson’s husband slapped it on social media last week because he was furious about how his wife and one of her employees had been treated.
Assistant manager Jennifer Ferguson and employee Rachel Rogers were fired by Lululemon after calling the police on a group of thieves.
— Amiri King (@AmiriKing) May 28, 2023
The group of thieves have targeted the same Atlanta store several times in the past few months.
This time, the two Lululemon employees recorded… pic.twitter.com/xDKmQxvzjv
"The safety and security of our employees and guests is always Lululemon’s top priority, and we have policies and protocols in place to uphold a safe environment," a spokesperson for Lululemon said. "We take thefts and vandalism very seriously and our focus right now is supporting our educators, as well as continuing to collaborate with local partners and law enforcement.”
So why roll out a welcome mat for thieves?
