• Report: #235674

Complaint Review: PetSmart

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  • Submitted: Monday, February 12, 2007
  • Last Posting: Monday, April 28, 2008
  • Reported By:COLORADO SPRINGS Colorado
PetSmart
petsmart.com Colorado Springs Colorado 80922 U.S.A.

PetSmart Discriminating against me because of pregnancy! Colorado Springs Colorado


1Author 2Consumer 3Employee/Owner

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I have been working at Petsmart for almost 8 months. I just recently in the last month told them that I was pregnant. I work in the grooming salon as a groomer, and have been insured by my doctor that it is fine. Well, like most pregnant women I experiance morning sickness, which can sometimes last in to the afternoon.

Last wednsday I worked from 1230-9pm whci is the closing shift. I didn't have any dogs scheduled for me so I asked if I could come in later once the vomiting passed. My manager said,"I'm sure it will pass since it's just morning sickness, so you have to come in at 12:30. So, I went into work. I was sick the entire time I was there.

Then, after my manager left the salon a co worker of mine came to me and told me that she was saying how ridiculous it is that i'm calling in just because of morning sickness and that she no longer wnats to deal with me and my pregnancy problems.
So once I was told that information I decided to start documenting things.

Later that night I went through our scheduling book. Another groomer had called in about a week before me when she was working 1230-9 also and completely booked with 8 dogs! Well they let her stay home.

So I went to the break room and made copies. When I asked her about it she said they gave her no problem at all with her staying home! Then another girl who didn't come in because she didn't have a ride also said the same thing, "they have always been very accomodating to me" This girl is out atleast once every two weeks! But they have no problem with her.

Not to mention, months ago before I was pregnant I called in sick and they had no problem with me being out. Since I became pregnant everything has completely changed!!There has been a bad stomach virus going around, which my husband caught and had to stay home from work from.

Well a few days later, which was yesterday, I woke up at 3 a.m. Vomitg every hour accompanied with other gastrointestinal problems (If ou get what I mean). I was suppose to work 9-530 so I called in at 7:45.
I had to talk to one of the other managers since Jaimie didn't want to "deal" with me. She tried to tell me that I was the closing grromer, which I was not, and I argued that, then she just began telling me how irresponsible I am ccalling in just because I have morning sickness. I tried to explain how sick I was but she did not care. I told her there was no way I could come in, so I didn't.

Well later that night I recieved a call from my co worker. She told me she had some really disturbin things to tell me. She said that the manager, and all of my other co workers were stating how ridiculous I am for calling in. Someone actually stated that I was going to be a horrible mother, since I can't even get through morning sickness. I know co workers talking about me isn't discrimination, but when asked the manager told them all that I was definatly getting written up, suspended, and hopefully fired because I am calling in due to morning sickness.

This has been going on for some time now and I really don't think it is the correct way for anyone to be treated in the work place. Not to mention when I have come in and been sick while there, i've asked not to do dogs that are too heavy for me to lift, but I was told that if I can't groom big dogs I might as well not work there. Also, when I called in my manager tried to tell me that everyone else comes in when they are throwing up and they jut do it in the back and suck it up.

I could understand if I were calling in everyday or just not showing up, but thats not the case!! I am just wondering if there is anything I can do about this or if the only thing I can do is quit and find a new job. Any input would be wonderful! Thank you

Meghan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 2/12/2007 12:26:38 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/employers/petsmart/petsmart-discriminating-agains-5q37d.htm.

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author 2Consumer 3Employee/Owner
Updates & Rebuttals

#1 Consumer Suggestion

Everyone has a Boss...even the Boss.

AUTHOR: John - Colorado Springs (U.S.A.)

You sound like a decent person. I have an 11 month old daughter and when my girlfriend was pregnant, she had alot of problems with morning sickness.

If I were you, I would talk to a district manager or whoever is above your supervisor. Sounds to me like your supervisor should be the one fired or at least demoted. Obvious poor supervision skills. I understand that when there is work to be done that it can be hard to find someone else to cover.

I myself have had to work an additional 8 hours after already working 8 hours and being told at the last minute that someone couldn't make it in and I would have to stay. It sucks, but in order to run a successful business, sometimes people have to take one for the team.

No matter where you work, there are probably going to be jerks and there's not much that you can do about that. But you shouldn't have to deal with harassment like you've described. Please do talk to someone alot higher on the food chain and explain your problems to them.

Let me know what happens.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
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#2 Ex-Employee

Talk to your DM

AUTHOR: Amycollins - Fremont (U.S.A.)

You need to talk to your District Manager right away! This is unacceptable behavior by your supervisor.

I worked for Petsmart years ago and I can attest to them treating their employees bad!
Best of luck and please let us know what happens.
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#3 Ex-Employee

There is hope

AUTHOR: Cherokee - The Woodlands (U.S.A.)

I worked for PetSmart for 2 and a half years and I saw several women groomers that were pregnant that had problems during their pregnancy and were never treated badly! I think it is horrible that your store was like that. If you are still working there or have been fired or whatever here are some steps. Talk to the store manager, then speak to the regional and work your way up the chain of command. Plus, it is discrimination to treat you that way just because you are pregnant! Don't ever let someone tell you that it isn't.
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#4 Consumer Comment

RETAIL JOBS ARE A DIME A DOZEN

AUTHOR: Margaret - Houston (U.S.A.)

Unless you are in management, I would not even worry about it. Retail jobs are a dime a dozen and there are many more establishments you could go get a job with after you have the kid. Petsmart has a bad rep with animals anyway. One of the one's in Dallas, Texas killed a moluccan cockatoo because of their stupidity on how to care for the poor bird. I filed a complaint with the SPCA against that stupid company.
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#5 Employee

Things to consider.

AUTHOR: Satellitebluenb - Pennsburg (U.S.A.)

If you have only been with the company for 8 months, and are a groomer, I am assuming you attended the grooming academy not too long ago. Keep in mind, that contract you signed...you have to pay back $4,000.00 if you quit within 2 years of the contract date.

As far as your manager goes with stating to the other employees that she's going to write you up and hopefully get you fired...well...I'd love to say many nasty words that I am not permitted to on here about that...but I will keep it as clean as possible. She is supposed to be a manager. Not an employee. There really is a big difference between the two. Managers are supposed to set examples and be professional at all times. Managers are not there to "be friends" with the employees. They're there to do a job and run their department efficiently. Her telling the groomers and bathers that she is definitely writing you up...is not professional. Her saying she hopes that they fire you...is not professional. Her saying she is not going to "deal" with you...is not professional. Her even QUESTIONING your illness...is not professional! She is setting a TERRIBLE example for your co-workers. She's basically showing them that it is okay to talk badly behind people's back. And it's not okay. Especially not on her behalf. If I were you, I would report it to your store manager. Write a statement even. Then I would call the CARE Line and file a report with them. If you don't hear anything back and they are still giving you issues...then go to the DSM. He/She should do something about it almost immediately.
If worse comes to worse and you still absolutely want to leave, keep calling out whenever you feel like it.

All you need to do is call 2 hours before your scheduled shift and say "I am not going to be coming in today, I do not feel well." If they tell you that you have to come in, then you tell them that you really can't. Stick to your guns. Eventually, if they get sick of it, they will fire you. And you know what? Whooptie doo if they do because then you get what you want...and you don't have to pay back the $4,000.00 because you were fired. You didn't voluntarily quit. If you decide you want to go and work at another grooming salon and they ask you for a referrence, you just tell them exactly what happened and tell them that Petsmart might not be a good referrence because of that, but they're welcome to call them. Being honest with a new employer will get you a LONG way.
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