U.S. Home Depot sacks cancer-ridden cashier, loses lawsuit

[JLM]

I worked in retail for a number of years and the overwhelming majority of people I worked with were very hard workers who took their job very seriously. And the pay was sh1t!

That's always been my philosophy, your work ethic is your work ethic..........you don't adjust your work ethic to match the pay.........you quit and go find a job that pays fairly. (after a polite discussion with the employer) If a wise employer can see you making more money for you, he won't let you go.

 

[SLM]

That's always been my philosophy, your work ethic is your work ethic..........you don't adjust your work ethic to match the pay.........you quit and go find a job that pays fairly. (after a polite discussion with the employer) If a wise employer can see you making more money for you, he won't let you go.

But my point was that it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the services that a major retailer offers.

The slightest, and I do mean the slightest, twitch in the profit margin results in cut hours, it makes absolutely no difference how well you perform your job. You are a number to them. Which I think is evident in the story in the OP. And it's also why I was happy to read that she got hers in the end.

 

[damngrumpy]

There is a way around low wage starts, and part time so you don't pay benefits.
All employees, part time and full time should be allowed benefits. Yes it would
mean less part time but that is a lot better than the sweat shop era of jobs in our
own country.
As for Home Depot, this is nonsense, treating people this way. I have been in
management, and I have been a union leader. I find most companies are not
like this. In another way, we should be asking is this Home Depot across the board
or this Home Depot in a specific location? This kind of action casts a cloud over the
entire company. Would the same thing have happened in New York City or LA
or for that matter anywhere in Canada?
As for estimates, well a company can have what ever policy they like, it depends on
the customer to accept or find another company to do business with

 

[karrie]

I'll stick to the topic at hand....

Am I the only one who has a jaded part of me that wonders if the company doesn't face pressure from its health insurer to fire overly sick employees in order to keep premiums on their policy down?

 

[taxslave]

I didn't know that, now I'm informed. I'm not sure though if poor pay is a legitimate reason for poor service, and actually the point Gerry thinks I'm whining about (charging up front for work that may never be performed) makes them look even worse.

I can see them charging for estimates. Someone has to be paid to go out and measure and do the estimate. It happens in other businesses as well.

I'll stick to the topic at hand....

Am I the only one who has a jaded part of me that wonders if the company doesn't face pressure from its health insurer to fire overly sick employees in order to keep premiums on their policy down?

Entirely possible. It would also depend on the labour laws in the jurisdiction involved.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I'll stick to the topic at hand....

Am I the only one who has a jaded part of me that wonders if the company doesn't face pressure from its health insurer to fire overly sick employees in order to keep premiums on their policy down?

It's probably the other way around. They are told their premium will go up if they keep her employed.

 

[SLM]

I'll stick to the topic at hand....

Am I the only one who has a jaded part of me that wonders if the company doesn't face pressure from its health insurer to fire overly sick employees in order to keep premiums on their policy down?

Well insurance companies are not known for their depth of humanity.

 

[karrie]

It's probably the other way around. They are told their premium will go up if they keep her employed.

how is that the other way around? fire her to keep the policy cost down.... keep her the policy cost goes up... same thing no?

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

how is that the other way around? fire her to keep the policy cost down.... keep her the policy cost goes up... same thing no?

HD made the decision to go with cheaper premiums rather than insurance company twisting HD's arm to fire her.

 

[CDNBear]

The bottom line is more important to big box stores. And they aren't afraid of alienating a few customers, or employees to pad it.

Other than my rare trip to the Bass Pro, I avoid them like the plague.

I like it when I'm greeted with "Bear! How are ya bud, what can we do for you today?" anyways.

 

[JLM]

Well insurance companies are not known for their depth of humanity.

They are more for making money than making friends. :lol:

 

[MapleDog]

The bottom line is more important to big box stores. And they aren't afraid of alienating a few customers, or employees to pad it.

Other than my rare trip to the Bass Pro, I avoid them like the plague.

I like it when I'm greeted with "Bear! How are ya bud, what can we do for you today?" anyways.

You should try this big box chain,i've heard they have a killer service.
Army of Darkness S-Mart Ad - YouTube

 

[JLM]

I can see them charging for estimates. Someone has to be paid to go out and measure and do the estimate. It happens in other businesses as well.

I fully agree, it's just that they don't get people like me as customers. I was a surveyor for 35 years, I don't need to hire people to read a measuring tape. I gave the head honcho at "End of the Roll" the measurements and between us we picked out the carpet and two minutes later I had a price and within a few days the job was done. No bullsh*t.

 

[gerryh]

I fully agree, it's just that they don't get people like me as customers. I was a surveyor for 35 years, I don't need to hire people to read a measuring tape. I gave the head honcho at "End of the Roll" the measurements and between us we picked out the carpet and two minutes later I had a price and within a few days the job was done. No bullsh*t.

and as a surveyor, I imagine you took your customers word for what the measurements were and just signed off on it. Right?

 

[DaSleeper]

The bottom line is more important to big box stores. And they aren't afraid of alienating a few customers, or employees to pad it.

Other than my rare trip to the Bass Pro, I avoid them like the plague.

I like it when I'm greeted with "Bear! How are ya bud, what can we do for you today?" anyways.

You know you're a redneck if the greeter at WalMart calls greets you by name.......;-)

 

[JLM]

and as a surveyor, I imagine you took your customers word for what the measurements were and just signed off on it. Right?

You got a point there, Ger but our customers were the taxpayers and most of our work involved doing the original measurements and we didn't take anything for granted, BUT there is a slight difference, we were talking roads and bridges at $several million dollars at mile, not a room at $20 a square yard.

I completely and fully understand your rationale Gerry and I admit you probably have to have some rules carved in stone, but I just happen to think both sides can benefit with a little negotiating. Like you could say "this is my price for what you ask, but the price could change if YOU f*cked up".

 

[gerryh]

You got a point there, Ger but our customers were the taxpayers and most of our work involved doing the original measurements and we didn't take anything for granted, BUT there is a slight difference, we were talking roads and bridges at $several million dollars at mile, not a room at $20 a square yard.

I completely and fully understand your rationale Gerry and I admit you probably have to have some rules carved in stone, but I just happen to think both sides can benefit with a little negotiating. Like you could say "this is my price for what you ask, but the price could change if YOU f*cked up".

Been there, done that, and still ended up on the shytty side of the stick. Since you have never had to deal with the "retail side" of things from a contractors point of view, it really is quite ignorant of you to make the statements you have. It's far from being an asshole just for wanting to get paid for your consultation. We all have bills to pay and family's to feed.

 

[The Old Medic]

Most of the time, when you order a door, windows, carpet, heating/cooling equipment, etc. from Home Depot; it is a contract company that does the actual work. They sometimes ask for fees that Home Deport does NOT approve of. I got a company removed from doing business with Home Depot, by reporting their asking for upfront fees for an estimate. I wrote a detailed letter to Home Depot headquarters, and 3 weeks later, the company rep called me bitching because I got them de-listed.

 

[JLM]

Been there, done that, and still ended up on the shytty side of the stick. Since you have never had to deal with the "retail side" of things from a contractors point of view, it really is quite ignorant of you to make the statements you have. It's far from being an asshole just for wanting to get paid for your consultation. We all have bills to pay and family's to feed.

Uhhhhhhhhhhh? F**K, Gerry most people I've dealt with have done business with me completely in line with the statements I've made. Sometimes I have absolutely no inkling what a job would cost, say tiling a bathroom sink 20" X 30", sometimes I just need a 20 second ballpark answer, so I know if it's going to be $150 or $600, so if I get it within $50 good enough.

 

[Angstrom]

Uhhhhhhhhhhh? F**K, Gerry most people I've dealt with have done business with me completely in line with the statements I've made. Sometimes I have absolutely no inkling what a job would cost, say tiling a bathroom sink 20" X 30", sometimes I just need a 20 second ballpark answer, so I know if it's going to be $150 or $600, so if I get it within $50 good enough.

I don't know why you bother.. gerryh, in his mind, is better then the rest of the world.