Walmart Fires Employee for Defending Himself Against an Assault

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

A former Walmart employee says he fired from his job this week after defending himself against an assault in the store's parking lot.

Kristopher Oswald, 30, had been working at a Walmart in Hartland, Michigan, for about seven weeks when the incident occurred.

Oswald, who had been working the overnight shift stocking pet supplies, was eating food in his car while on a break, when he suddenly heard the sound of a woman screaming.

He went to investigate, and came across what appeared to be a man pushing a woman up against her vehicle.

When Oswald asked the woman if she needed help, the man abruptly attacked him with a series of blows to the head.

Oswald said the man continued punching him while yelling, "I'm going to kill you."

Fighting back, Oswald told Action News he was able to gain the upper hand by holding the man down, but was unexpectedly jumped by two other men.

It was then that Livingston County Sheriff deputies arrived on the scene and stopped the brawl.

According to Oswald, he was summarily terminated the following day for violating company policy "on his lunch break."

It remains unclear which policy Oswald violated, as Walmart's guidebook does not explicitly prohibit employees from assisting individuals in apparent danger or exercising self-defense in the face of bodily harm.

"We had to make a tough decision, one that we don't take lightly, and he's no longer with the company," a spokeswoman for Walmart told the Associated Press.

"The last thing I expected was to not have a job," Oswald told WXYZ. "I don't even know what to put on an application about all this. How do I say this ended?"

Despite the negative outcome, Oswald told the news station he would do it again. "I will always do the right thing," he said.

If you're going to fire somebody at least let them know which policy they broke, this is ridiculous

 

[Teelie]

Walmart doesn't give a **** about its employees so this comes as no surprise. And I really think the only "tough" part for them was whether there would be negative publicity in firing him. Obviously they decided it was worth the risk.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I just don't understand what he did to get fired, he tried to help a woman in distress and then was attacked and defended himself

 

[Piper Maru]

Maybe they didn't have the three copies of Timecop for $18 deal going on.

 

[Tanin]

The only thing I can think of is an unauthorized break. Unless they have a good reason for his firing this is pretty shameful.

 

[Darthphere]

Usually a break is on company time while you have to clock out for a lunch break. So yeah, that could be it.

 

[Figs]

Even so, Walmart should catch hell for this because to me this is no different than them saying, "who cares if that woman was getting assaulted".

 

[Darthphere]

If anything, this is a blessing in disguise since some company will jump on the publicity and hire him.

 

[Figs]

If anything, this is a blessing in disguise since some company will jump on the publicity and hire him.

Good point.

Not sure what this guy's position was at Walmart, but they should have kept him on and put him on security/loss prevention. t:

Years ago when I was working at Home Depot, the loss prevention workers are allowed(not punishable by termination) to tackle thieves running out of the store. I saw it happen right in front of me a couple times. It definitely made the day a bit more exciting.

 

[Marvolo]

Even so, Walmart should catch hell for this because to me this is no different than them saying, "who cares if that woman was getting assaulted".

Yeah they are basically saying, "Ignore the good Samaritan law."

 

[Pink Ranger]

Yeah they are basically saying, "Ignore the good Samaritan law."

Walmart is considered the sovereign soil of another nation, near as I can tell.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

this isnt new, weve been told if in uniform to avoid all confrontation abuse or physical when out of work, as it may bring the name of the company down

but to be fair out bosses said if no other option was available to defend ourselves

 

[Figs]

Yeah they are basically saying, "Ignore the good Samaritan law."

Pretty much.

Then again, when I reposted this article on my Facebook page, two of my friends reminded me that in this day and age people are sue happy. I'm sure Walmart doesn't want to take the chance of the criminal/s suing them for some horse **** reason that a scumbag lawyer might be able to use in court.

Either way, I still think a monster company like Walmart just didn't give a damn.

 

[Wolfwood]

Pretty much.

Then again, when I reposted this article on my Facebook page, two of my friends reminded me that in this day and age people are sue happy. I'm sure Walmart doesn't want to take the chance of the criminal/s suing them for some horse **** reason that a scumbag lawyer might be able to use in court.

Either way, I still think a monster company like Walmart just didn't give a damn.

I think it does boil down to a liability issue. I'm not defending Walmart, but I think they're protecting themselves from any potential issues that might arise.

Part of the reason management will tell you not to stop someone who is robbing the store is to prevent injury to personnel and because it's easier to just to write off the cost of the money/items that were stolen than to deal with any lawsuit that might come from an altercation.

 

[Ultimatehero]

I just don't understand what he did to get fired, he tried to help a woman in distress and then was attacked and defended himself

Companies have this really stupid law that if you see somebody in danger, or somebody shop lifting, or somebody committing any crime really (except for a code Adam) to report it to the manager so they can call the cops and the criminal can get away. Basically the company doesn't want to be liable for their employee trying to be a hero, so instead if they do do the right thing - the company gets mad at them. Corporations are really screwy.

I'd say if you see somebody shop lifting, suspiciously carrying a weapon, stalking or assaulting somebody - it's your job as a human being to do something. Maybe it's just comic books that instilled in me a hero's code, but I just don't see the nonsense of companies preventing people from doing what's right.

The way that I've seen that 'rule' written and talked about - many companies would probably go after this guy for no reason other than "we don't want to be liable of you possibly getting hurt from doing the right thing, so you're terminated." Maybe too many people have sued companies after trying to stop a crime in progress that corporations are now completely paranoid? I don't know. I know it definitely goes back to that 'report it, don't do anything' rule though.

 

[Teelie]

Most of these companies fail to realize they could just as easily be sued for not attempting to intervene in a timely manner when there is a crime going on against a customer.

I mean a crime besides the one they're already committing by being Walmart.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I think it does boil down to a liability issue. I'm not defending Walmart, but I think they're protecting themselves from any potential issues that might arise.

Part of the reason management will tell you not to stop someone who is robbing the store is to prevent injury to personnel and because it's easier to just to write off the cost of the money/items that were stolen than to deal with any lawsuit that might come from an altercation.

Exactly.

An elderly man died of a heart attack in my store several years ago and a co-worker tried to resuscitate him with CPR. After he passed away, one of the managers told her that she shouldnt have touched him because if it is found that her actions led to his death, the store could get sued.


We are also told that if a thief wants our cash drawer to only give him the small bills.

 

[Darthphere]

Exactly.

An elderly man died of a heart attack in my store several years ago and a co-worker tried to resuscitate him with CPR. After he passed away, one of the managers told her that she shouldnt have touched him because if it is found that her actions led to his death, the store could get sued.


We are also told that if a thief wants our cash drawer to only give him the small bills.

If a thief wants my cash drawer I give him the whole cash drawer.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Gun to my head your getting all the cash

 

[Piper Maru]

Walmart could very well be monitoring this thread. Stay safe everyone!

 

[Ultimatehero]

What's with Walmart hate? Or is it just a fad thing?

 

[Schlosser85]

Uh Wal-Mart is hated because it's the closest we have right now to Weyland-Yutani.

 

[Teelie]

What's with Walmart hate? Or is it just a fad thing?

Walmart has run out a lot of mom and pop places, they treat their employees terribly. Their business mentality is brutally inefficient and terrible. They manipulate and abuse their suppliers and wield their status like a hammer with all the subtlety of one.

They are practically an evil company with no reservations on screwing over anyone that gets in their way.

 

[Piper Maru]

When push comes to shove, I'll bet you all shop at Walmart.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Not recently, but not out of protest, the only one I know of is too far. If there was on closer I'd still shop there. Walmart isn't the only place to treat its employees like sh**. That kind goes with the territory of working a job like that, that's why you're not suppose to make a career out of it.