Not Allowed to Shop at Costco or mention their name.

[DawnCt1]

While doing my grocery shopping at Stop and Shop, I was chatting with the woman checking out my groceries. I happened to mention Costco. Under her breath, she told me that she goes there also but they recently had a staff meeting and all employees were told that if they mentioned Costco in the work place, or were ever seen shopping there, they would be immediately fired. From there I went to Shaws to finish up my shopping. I mentioned the Stop and Shop policy to the check out clerk. She repeated the same thing, and said it was because Costco was non union. Now I know that companies have the "right" to impose these restrictions on their employees. Not too long ago, a Budweizer employee was fired because someone bought him a Coors beer and he drank it in public. How do you feel about these restrictions. Personally, I don't think any grocery store pays their employees enough to restrict their shopping habits.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I think it's a bit over the top to restrict what employees talk about, but this may also have something to do with the big labor dispute going on with the large chain grocery stores and their unions, which is expected to come to a head today. That might be adding to the tension between union shops and non-union ones?

 

[eeyore kelly]

I think it is a stupid policy. Not metioning the competion at work, I can see. But, trying to restrict there off time? Idiotic. Any company.

 

[Nancy]

As someone who works in a grocery store there is no way they would ever be able to tell me where I can or can't shop for my groceries. I do most of my main shopping at my store, but I run into the other stores in the area to get their bargains....plus our largest competitor is 2 minutes from my house....the store I work at is 15 minutes. If I need to pick up something quick for dinner on my day off which store do you think I'm going to?

I have even told people that they can find a particular product at another store if we don't carry it.

 

[philaround]

I have heard of companies that have tried to regulate what employees wear when thay are not working. I can understand an in house dress policy but how can they enforce an "off the clock" dress policy?

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

My boyfriend works for Coke and he is not allowed to be seen with a Pepsi or go to a restaurant that sells Pepsi. I think that is over the top and ridiculous.

 

[eeyore kelly]

My boyfriend works for Coke and he is not allowed to be seen with a Pepsi or go to a restaurant that sells Pepsi. I think that is over the top and ridiculous.

Me too.

 

[cardaway]

Typical union BS.

 

[Michie]

My boyfriend works for Coke and he is not allowed to be seen with a Pepsi or go to a restaurant that sells Pepsi. I think that is over the top and ridiculous.

What market is he in? My nephew works in the Great Plains division, and he has never mentioned that. Ack, that is over the top.

 

[minkydog]

Wow, just think if other employers had this policy You could only go to the hospital you worked for, even if they only treat children. You could only shop at one clothes store, even if that store doesn't sell your size. You could only eat at one restaurant even if it only serves fast food This is a ridiculous policy.

 

[goodeats]

I would think it's no different than an athlete who is paid to endorse Nike to not be allowed to wear Reebok or Adidas. Of course I would think it should only apply to managers and above. I work at a car company and managers and above get free car leases. But anybody below that is 'allowed' to drive whatever they want. But they are greatly 'encouraged' to lease or buy one our cars.

I could believe the Coke thing, but not for entry level people.

 

[Maleficent13]

When I worked at TDS, you could be reprimanded and I guess technically fired for "non-Disney" behavior after work hours. You were expected to uphold the Disney image in all aspects, not just when you were on the selling floor.

Having said that, I do think the restrictions on where you can shop/eat is a bit over the top.

 

[tandrjohn]

Typical union BS.

Unions are notorious for recommending stores, products, or even candidates for office, but this sounds like a company policy.

If you are in an "at will" relationship with your employer, no notice or cause (including one as stupid as this) is required before they give you the ax.

 

[puffkin]

Another reason I disagree with Unions. I think there was a time and place for them, but not anymore in most instances.......

 

[MICKEY88]

My boyfriend works for Coke and he is not allowed to be seen with a Pepsi or go to a restaurant that sells Pepsi. I think that is over the top and ridiculous.

is that 24/7 or just while wearing clothes that identify him as a coke employee..

 

[cardaway]

Unions are notorious for recommending stores, products, or even candidates for office, but this sounds like a company policy.

Actually it doesn't. Until I read a story about this kind of thing at a non-union store or shop, my views on the matter will be the same.

Considering some of the other talk you hear concerning crossing union lines, firing sometimes is getting off easy.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

What market is he in? My nephew works in the Great Plains division, and he has never mentioned that. Ack, that is over the top.

He works for full service in the Rocky Mountain Division (that is the name before they merged with Arizona, now I think it is like Desert sun or something like that.)

is that 24/7 or just while wearing clothes that identify him as a coke employee.

The job he is in does not require him to wear shirts that identify him as a coca-cola employee, and he does not drive a company vehicle, so I am assuming it is 24/7.

 

[mickeyfan2]

You are free to shop and consume what you want on your own time. This is ones of the problems of unions.

 

[mtemm]

wow. my husband works for guinness and thankfully they have no policy preventing them from drinking a competitors product. he happens to prefer guinness and personally likes to support his product if he is out, but he certainly isn't told what to do. Personally I think incentives to drink the companies product works well for us, too.

I could understand the coke rule if the person was in uniform, but out of uniform? not so much.

as for the grocery store/no costco rule, hadn't heard that before. again, if a person decided against shopping there for whatever reason I would say fine, but for a company to say what an employee can or can't do is not right. again, I guess if the person is wearing the company uniform maybe, I guess. But plain clothes on their own time? not right.

 

[alliecats]

It sounds insane to me. I would not want to work at a company that tried to dictate my behavior or dress in MY time, unless, of course, they wanted to work out an arrangement to pay me extra for trying to regulate MY time.
It would suck to not have a choice re: workplace when they pull something like this.