Dear Store Manager Colon,
I’d like to address some issues that I have been on my mind due to the recent developments of my demotion to pets. I wanted to take some time and share with you what I have been dealing with over the last several days.
First of all above all else, I admit I made a huge mistake. I admit that my mistake could be quite costly to the store, I also admit that my mistake should result in some type of discipline due to the significant amount of money that was part of the loss and I do understand that the discipline could have included termination from Wal-Mart. However I don’t feel the ends justify the means and here’s why:
1, I was willing to pay the money back. In the meeting with Scott and the Asst. Manager of the front end, I expressed my willingness to pay the money back for my mistake. At that time, she also informed me that on that day my pan was $300 short. I was never made aware of this at any point. The sheet I was too sign showed my pan was $720 short (not $1020) as I was told by her. I was never told of an additional shortage at any point, nor did I ever sign any paper that said more was missing than the check. Ever still, I am more than willing to pay that money back. While I understand that company policy to assume that I took the money or gave it out on purpose, I assure you that is not the case. I’m 100% sure that you could call my previous store managers, CSM’s and I even have additional references for you from my other store that will acknowledge my character and willingness to make sure I am doing my job in an honest way. In 4 yrs I have never been short/over more than $20, neither at the service desk nor as a cashier. The ‘money’ I am referring to is the $300 that allegedly my pan was short.
2, If you look at my job code and pay rate, customer service is not listed in my job duties. I preformed work at the service desk as a ‘help’ until more people could be hired at the desk. I have never taken a CBL, or been formally trained, I learned everything on my own. So, while I do understand that action must be taken to eliminate me from handling money at the service desk, why I am I being ‘demoted’ for a job I was never, ‘promoted’ too.
3, Why was no one informed of my demotion when my shift started the next time? When I walked in after a day off, no one knew I was not to be a cashier. Personnel had no idea I was demoted, the merchandise supervisors were not informed, and even still almost a week later, no one seems to know what is going on. In fact the schedule that was released this Saturday for the week of June 19th (which I observed was printed the night before) still has me listed as a cashier for all of my shifts. Why am I being scheduled on the front end if I am not permitted on a register?
4, While I didn’t want to mention this from the time I started working at Wal-Mart, I do have a disability. I can provide full medical documentation to illustrate that I do in fact have one. The reason I never mentioned it, is because I was a cashier and the tasks I was preforming were not interfering with my disability. However, handling several tasks at once at the service desk, on my own, (because no one else is scheduled), while customers are expressing their disappointment in the fact no one else is working—can cause me to become disoriented and preform my job poorly. As a cashier, I never had this problem because I am only doing one or two things at a time and I’m not required to have people talking in my ear, exchanging things, wiring large amounts of money, etc. All of those things in themselves require significant amounts of concentration, too which my disability can sometimes interfere. As a cashier, I provide the most focus on excellent customer service and ensuring the customer receives all of their items and that they’re money is tendered correctly.
5, one of the last things I’d like to discuss (however certainly not the least) was how this whole situation was handled. I understand the day after the check/money was missing; I was called back to the office in a meeting with Greg and yourself. That meeting I felt dealt with the issue of the check, you informed me and asked me some questions about the transaction, to which I acknowledged I didn’t recall off hand. I was told you would get back with me once you traced the transaction, etc. A few days later, I was called into the office and given a sheet to inform me that my register was short $720 due to the check. I signed that form in front of CSM’s Michelle and Linda, and proceeded that day without incident. The transaction occurred on 5/26; I was called in with you on 5/27 and was given the sheet on 5/29. After that, I was permitted to return to the service desk, until I was called into a meeting with Scott and the Asst. Manger on Tuesday, June 1st. If that transaction (and alleged shortage) were such a cause for concern, why would I be permitted at the desk all the way until June 1st? While I understand you needed the time to prepare a case that I could not defend against me, I feel like I was ‘used’ until you absolutely knew you couldn’t have me work at the desk.
Even on the sheet I signed acknowledging my shortage at the register it says, ‘Because we understand that you take your responsibility as a cashier seriously’, and to that statement I completely do. It’s just so disheartening after 4 yrs. of a perfect record; I would be treated so unfairly and be put in a department that I know I will not be greatly productive in, and face the humiliation by so many people asking me what happened.
I’m not asking for a job at the service desk, all I am asking is that you reconsider having me work on the front end. Could there be some type of probation period that I wouldn’t be allowed to run register but with hopes showing my dedication and hard work on the front end doing other duties, I could one day be a cashier again? Again, I re-acknowledge wheat I said in my intro, all I ask is that you please consider these above issues as part of your decision.
Thank you,
Bill Smith
