I believe a co-worker was fired today, for applying at Walmart!

[Poohbear123]

Not for sure, but she was seen emptying her locker, and when someone asked if she was leaving, she said yes. Side note: We have not one but 2 Walmarts opening within a few miles of us, Publix. We had a meeting this morning, 6:00am and our District Manager said if anyone is thinking about "working for Walmart they need to leave NOW!" Than, he went on about how bad the benefits are at WM campared to US! So, I think she got canned!

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

sounds like the boss is a bit of a jerk to me....

Since when is it illegal to apply for another job when you have one?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I smell ACLU

 

[lewdyan1]

If you don't mind me asking, where are the new Walmarts opening?

 

[Poohbear123]

sounds like the boss is a bit of a jerk to me....

Since when is it illegal to apply for another job when you have one?

Its not, but IF Walmart called Publix, to ask about her "working skills" which I am not sure they do, she will be "let go." Or, maybe it was something else, or she just quit on her won, I am not REALLY sure. I KNOW the District Manager said in the meeting that: "When a Walmart opened in another District he was in charge of, he vistited the Walmart and found 2 Employees working there Part time, AND working for Publix....he fired them both, and when they realized Walmart "wasn't the place for them" he took them back!

 

[sorcerormickey]

We were in a similar situation years ago. I worked at a Disney Store when the Warner Brothers stores were just starting to open. We were told if anyone applied there, they would be fired. The WB store opened right across the hallway from us - no one (that I know of) applied there - the pay was lower! LOL!

 

[MareQ]

Its not, but IF Walmart called Publix, to ask about her "working skills" which I am not sure they do, she will be "let go." Or, maybe it was something else, or she just quit on her won, I am not REALLY sure. I KNOW the District Manager said in the meeting that: "When a Walmart opened in another District he was in charge of, he vistited the Walmart and found 2 Employees working there Part time, AND working for Publix....he fired them both, and when they realized Walmart "wasn't the place for them" he took them back!

Sounds fishy to me. Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with people having two jobs.... If Publix is in the habit of firing employees SOLELY based on the fact that they have a second job they they are PRIME targets for lawsuits.

My guess is there's more to the story than what you know and your boss is telling tall tales....

 

[Pugdog007]

I smell ACLU

Your kidding, right?

And how exactly have the former employee's civil liberties been violated?

An employer can absolutely fire you if they find out you're looking elsewhere. The ACLU can't help you.

 

[N.Bailey]

I worked at a chain restaurant and all management had to sign a form that they would not work for a direct competitor for 10 years after leaving our chain. If you didn't sign, you weren't hired. I know a few instances where managers had left and it wasn't enforced, but they did have the right to enforce it if they wished.

My guess is, if you never signed anything like this, the employer would be in the wrong to fire you. Perhaps you'd qualify for unemployment compensation if you found yourself in that position? I'm not sure of the legal ramifications if there would be any though.

It's crappy business, IMO though.

 

[MosMom]

Was a noncompete agreement part of your new hire paperwork?

 

[Poohbear123]

Your kidding, right?

And how exactly have the former employee's civil liberties been violated?

An employer can absolutely fire you if they find out you're looking elsewhere. The ACLU can't help you.

Yep, I agree with that, and so does Publix! Like I said: I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF SHE WAS FIRED FOR THAT (applying for Walmart) OR FOR SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE, BEING SHORT A FEW TIMES ON HER REGISTER, OR BEING RUDE TO A CUSTOMER, 1 TO MANY TIMES!! BUT the RUMOR going around is that she was FIRED for APPLYING at WALMART!!

 

[RitaZ.]

There may be more to the story. Publix is one of the best employers in FL.

When Walmart opened here, a lot of our Publix's customers went there. You would go in Publix and the store was empty. The Walmart here is kept clean and orderly, but their employees are nasty. I rarely do any shopping at Walmart, the cashier that was clipping her fingernails at the register, while I waited for her to finish, was the last straw for me. I guess I'm not the only customer to feel the same way about Walmart because Publix is once again very busy. Yes, Publix's prices are higher, but the employees are very nice and helpful.

 

[drgnfly30]

Sounds fishy to me. Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with people having two jobs....

There is if it is conflict of interest or considered a competitor...

With my employer, if I want to take a second job I have to complete a form explaining what the job is, entails & hours expected to work & have it signed off on by my boss, their boss, HR & our Corporate Compliance department.

 

[Poohbear123]

Acutually in this weeks sale ad, we have 19 BYGO free Items which is a LOT!! Does Walmart??? NO!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

An employer an say that you cannot work for the competition.

Many people sometimes hold two jobs--and perhaps that is what the employer meant.

Are these Walmart Supercenters?

I don't think it is right to fire for merely seeking an alternative opportunity (and if you risk losing your job while you are seeking an alternative opportunity, that is when you tell your potential employer that your seeking employment needs to be confidential from your current employer which is your right to do).

An employer has every legal right to have a non-compete clause for their employees. This does not have to be out right stated especially in Florida where it is a right to work state. They can fire you at will for any reason.

Typically kids are working in grocery stores--so I place little credence in the rumours though.

 

[beckmrk04]

Wal-Mart is a terrible place to work (yes, I would know).

That said-

Wal-Mart had a non-compete policy, too, so I would have been fired for taking a job at Target for instance. It's very common to have these policies- obviously companies don't want their employees working for competitors.

And- if you apply at a competitor, best to keep your lips zipped and tell the company you are applying at that you'd rather your current employer not know you are looking elsewhere and then list OTHER references.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Was a noncompete agreement part of your new hire paperwork?

Florida is a right to work state.

For a noncontracted position, there doesn't have to be any paperwork for a noncompete agreement. You are hired to perform duties and can be let go at anytime for any reason with or without cause.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

That is ridicuous if it's true. We all have to make a living and some people need 2 jobs. It shouldn't matter that you are working at another company even if it's a competitor. As long as you are doing your job and the hours don't interfere with each other. Oh like that person is going to give Walmart all of Pulix's secrets! He/she probably could go for a wrongful termination lawsuit, but at the most you would proabably only get your job back and would you really want to go back to a job that fired you for that? That is so insane!!

 

[RitaZ.]

Acutually in this weeks sale ad, we have 19 BYGO free Items which is a LOT!! Does Walmart??? NO!

Good! Time for me to go grocery shopping!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sounds fishy to me. Last time I checked there was nothing wrong with people having two jobs.... If Publix is in the habit of firing employees SOLELY based on the fact that they have a second job they they are PRIME targets for lawsuits.

My guess is there's more to the story than what you know and your boss is telling tall tales....

OP said nothing about not being able to have two jobs. That is perfectly legal. Where you choose to work--if your employer doesn't like your other line of work, they don't have to keep you in their employ. So you find two jobs that don't conflict and don't cause problems.

The district manager said NOTHING about not being able to have two jobs.

He said his employees cannot work at walmart.


And a hint--if you work in a church and they find out you are moonlighting in a strip club, they don't have to keep you in their employ either.