Last Thursday I was at work (manager of a corporate electronics store) when my LPO came in and asked to speak with one of my associates. He took my associate to the back office. 20 minutes later my district manager comes in and shakes my hand and asks if my associate is in the back with my LP. I told him they were and he went to join them. 5 minutes later they all came out and then asked to speak to me. I went to the back office and my LP told me to sit down and had my district manager sit off to the side behind me. He told me to set out my cellphone, at the time I had only my bussiness phone provided by Verizon via my company. He said that I had a nice case and asked where I got it. I told him that its from the store and he asked if I've paid for it. I explained to him that I just got the phone this week from the company and that I had all intentions of paying for the case once the visor Bluetooth that I wanted came in the shipment. I kept the box on the desk and all of my associates were aware of the situation. He then asked if I had brought the case come with me. I told him yes because I go home for lunch. He then started accusing me of stealing the case. I told him that I had no intentions in stealing the case and I even had my associates to back me up. He called me a liar and started accusing me of stealing my personal cellphone from the company. I told him that it was bull and that I will go home and show them the box and all and he continued to call me a liar. He told me that he could have me arrested and thrown in jail. I started to get scared because he was telling me that he had the evidence to. I continued denying his accusations when finally he told me that I had to fill out a paper explaining everything so that he could bring it to the company. He restated everything that he said he was writing in his report and told me to put the same things. I said ok and he said he was stepping out to make a call. Both the LPO and district manager left the back room. I was sitting in shock looking at this paper and realized he was trying to get me to admit to theft and to sign a promissory not! I crumpled up the papers and threw them away. I walked out and went back to work. I also grabbed the package off the desk and asked an associate to ring me up for the otterbox. After ringing me up I started our daily bank deposit when an officer lady walked into the store and asked to speak with me. I had her come to the back room and she asked about the cellphone in question. I told her that my personal cellphone is my own and that it does not belong to the company! She told me I was giving her the roundabout and not being honest. She said the man thing to do is go bring it back. I got serious with her and told her to quit saying I have a stolen phone! I told her ill go get it and show them. Then she asked about the otterbox case and asked for the promissory note I signed. I told her no the otterbox belongs to me and I have the receipt for it. She then took my drivers license info and address. We both then walked out to the front of the store where my district manager and LPO were waiting. She told them that I was going to get my personal phone and that I had not signed any promissory note for the case because I had paid for it. The LPO said he wanted to see the phone before the end of the night. As I was leaving to retrieve it my LPO had me leave my keys to the store with my district manager. I was confused and upset! My district manager calls me while I'm driving and asked, "what the hell was all that about?" I told him to tell me??? But he said to forget bringing the phone and to take tomorrow off and ill be paid for the day. I told him that this is BS and that I'm bringing the phone as requested! I met my district manager at another store nearby and he took pictures of the serial numbers on both the phone and box. He told me to have a goodnight and that hell call me tomorrow.
Friday, I called HR twice and left a message to call me... No answer.. I called my district manager twice... No answer... I wait all day and hear nothing. At nearly 11pm I text my district manager that I don't want to be fired for not showing up for my scheduled time and to please let me know. He promptly replied with " I will call you in the AM."
Saturday, I receive a text message from an ex employee of the company saying she heard some disturbing news about me being fired for stealing cell phones. I was immediately upset!! She informed me that other store managers are talking about it. She said they heard it from the district manager. I then called these managers and made it aware that the call is on record before asking them to tell me what they heard. Two of them confirmed that it is being said. I then called the district manager off record and asked what's going on and he informed me that he doesn't know yet and that he's fighting for me. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. I did have another party who heard him saying this because I had him on speakerphone. He told me he would pay me for the weekend and will meet me on Monday. I told him that this is all messed up and I could really complain about this. He said to have a good weekend and Hung up. Later Saturday night, one of the store associates who was questioned on Thursday as well told me he was pressured in to writing down that I had stolen a cellphone. He said that they accused him of stealing and scared him of getting in trouble and told him to write down that I had stolen a cellphone. I told him to write a statement about it but he was too scared to because he's afraid of losing his job. I have this all on text message.
Sunday, today my district manager calls me and said that he has to let me go because the regional manager wants him to. I told him that its been made public that I've been fired for stealing cellphones. He said no they decided to drop that and that I'm fired for stealing an otterbox case. I said that this is all such BS! And he told me that he can't do anything about it.
This is complete BS! What can I do? Can't I sue them? Can they appeal my unemployment? I need help!
Friday, I called HR twice and left a message to call me... No answer.. I called my district manager twice... No answer... I wait all day and hear nothing. At nearly 11pm I text my district manager that I don't want to be fired for not showing up for my scheduled time and to please let me know. He promptly replied with " I will call you in the AM."
Saturday, I receive a text message from an ex employee of the company saying she heard some disturbing news about me being fired for stealing cell phones. I was immediately upset!! She informed me that other store managers are talking about it. She said they heard it from the district manager. I then called these managers and made it aware that the call is on record before asking them to tell me what they heard. Two of them confirmed that it is being said. I then called the district manager off record and asked what's going on and he informed me that he doesn't know yet and that he's fighting for me. I asked him if he was sure and he said yes. I did have another party who heard him saying this because I had him on speakerphone. He told me he would pay me for the weekend and will meet me on Monday. I told him that this is all messed up and I could really complain about this. He said to have a good weekend and Hung up. Later Saturday night, one of the store associates who was questioned on Thursday as well told me he was pressured in to writing down that I had stolen a cellphone. He said that they accused him of stealing and scared him of getting in trouble and told him to write down that I had stolen a cellphone. I told him to write a statement about it but he was too scared to because he's afraid of losing his job. I have this all on text message.
Sunday, today my district manager calls me and said that he has to let me go because the regional manager wants him to. I told him that its been made public that I've been fired for stealing cellphones. He said no they decided to drop that and that I'm fired for stealing an otterbox case. I said that this is all such BS! And he told me that he can't do anything about it.
This is complete BS! What can I do? Can't I sue them? Can they appeal my unemployment? I need help!
