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Report: #501500

Complaint Review: Lowes Home Improvement - Mooresville North Carolina

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  • Reported By: Bob Miller — Lapel Indiana USA
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  • Lowes Home Improvement lowes.com Mooresville, North Carolina United States of America

Lowes Home Improvement They fired my son, who had 10 years of perfect service over a 45 second stupid safety rule and keep an icident from becoming an accident and save Lowes $3500 in doors. The dumb asses at Lowes headquarters fire my son who had 10 year of perfect service with them, for a 45second rules violation that saves Lowes at least $3500 doors at no risk to himself or anyone else Mooresville, North Carolina

*UPDATE Employee: Lowe's is Safety Focuses

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: accident policy

*Consumer Comment: Door Value

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: yeah...

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: safety rules

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: safety rules

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: safety rules

*Consumer Suggestion: THD

*Consumer Comment: Lowes was correct.

*UPDATE Employee: BLOWES TACTICS AND IGNORANT CONSUMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

*UPDATE Employee: The Truth??

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: LOWES IS RIGHT

*General Comment: Sounds like Lowe's

*UPDATE EX-employee responds: Safety Book

*Author of original report: Dear Mr. why isn't son fighting for his job.

*Author of original report: Dear Mr. why isn't son fighting for his job.

*Consumer Comment: NO MORE LOWES SHOPPING FOR ME

*Author of original report: So you don't think i'm credible, let me explain.

*General Comment: I don't understand...

*Consumer Comment: credible?

*Consumer Comment: Why is son not fighting for his job?

*Author of original report: To: Mr. I know where you are coming from, BUT.

*Author of original report: Home Depot guy, your answer.

*Consumer Comment: I understand where you are coming from...But

*General Comment: There are degrees of infractions

*Author of original report: Lowes safety book!

*General Comment: Safety issues are far more important than property.

*Consumer Comment: A safety violation is a safety violation.

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On July the 1st my son Rob recieved this 10 year award of service from Lowes Home-Improvement at the Lowes store in Anderson, Indiana.  On July the 7th, he was fired for a safety violation of not having on a safety/climbing harness.  He had been a Mill Works Manager and specialist and one of Lowes best custom door and window salesman for  10 years.
Lowes has this stupid safety rule, that you can't, for any reason, go into a safety zone, without putting a safety/climbing harness on.  To save someones life, putting out a fire in the paint department, trying to prevent an accident, is a big no, no, if a safety zone has been set up.  Which means putting a small rope across the aisle.
Well, the day that started the "unforgiveable sin" My son and his department manager was at the Mill Work desk and they heard a loud crash.  Two men from the plumbing department was in the mill work aisle trying to retrive some stock high-up on the mill work shelves.  They knock off an overhead sign.  Rob and the manager went to see what happened.
The department manager turned and walked away and my son watched while they were ramming around in his aisle.  Some how they got a $400 door on the forks of their HiLo truck and was ramming it into a group $400 to $800 doors and the doors were about to go to the floor.  Rob stepped into the safety zone for 20 to 45 seconds and move the $400 door on the forks, stopping the accident.  Rob said he didn't even think about the harness rule, all he was thinking about was saving Lowes doors, worth about $3500 to $4500.
Well, here comes the young blabber mouth LP man (loss prevention) the company snitch or rat as some of the other Lowes employees call him.  He asked what had happened, he offered no help and walked away.  But he returned later, because he had seen Rob step into the "SAFETY ZONE"  He wrote up Rob and the two plumbing guys.  The guys with the HiLo for unsafe work pratice and Rob for being in a safety zone without a harness, firing all three. 
Even after the Anderson store manager tried for two week to save Rob's job he was fired.  I appealed to CIO ( robert.a.niblock@lowes.com ) who turned it over to the Human Resources manager ( caterine.m.keown@lowes.com ), who turned it over to ( jennifer.k.swartz@lowes.com ) coporate attorney, who told me, she had all of my e-mails and not to contact anyone else.  She was reviewing Rob's termination.  One month and One week, she got back to us.
She did not talk to my son, the two HiLo guys or the the store manager or the fact, that with all that had gone on,  there was no damage, it didn't cost Lowes one dime.  Rob had, with his quick action, stopped an incident from becoming an accident and saved Lowes up to $4500.
In her letter to him, she said, "Mr. Miller admitted that he had entered the safety zone and I can't recommend that he, be rehired and I wish you good luck in your endeavor to find a new job."   Such kindness. 
What is so sad, Rob realy liked working for Lowes as a mill work specialist and he was a good and kind salesman.  Some say, that he made more money, in some months, than the department manager.
The bad thing was, his wife had some bad health with big medical bills.  With Lowes poor health insurance, Rob had to file medical bankrutpsy and at the age of 46, being fired into this economy, he can't find a job and with the state of Indiana refusing in give him any unemployment, because of the safety violation, he is financially broke. 
I am his father and I am paying his bills, because I won't let him and his wife become homeless or starve, Like Jennifer Swartz would. If she was fair, he could still be working and still making Lowes money.  Thanks Lowes.
So you people who shop Lowes, should understand how they treat their workers.  As one Lowes store manager told me, the people from Lowes Headquarters treats me and the other store workers like we are trailer trash.  When a company will treat their workers like that, you can see why you can't find good help there.  They fire their good workers who care about their jobs and keep the ones who don't.
Over the years I spent thousands of dollars with Lowes, restoring my 128 year old home.  An endless project and I will not spent another dollar with them.  I have started shopping at Home Depot and with the their new headquarters customer service manager, they are realy trying to beat Lowes in every way.  I think it's working.  I'm happy with them.  You contractors and you women give them a try.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/28/2009 10:29 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/lowes-home-improvement/mooresville-north-carolina-28115/lowes-home-improvement-they-fired-my-son-who-had-10-years-of-perfect-service-over-a-45-se-501500. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
6Author
22Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#28 UPDATE Employee

Lowe's is Safety Focuses

AUTHOR: Scott - ()

POSTED: Tuesday, June 04, 2013

 I have worked for Lowe's for 7 years and I am proud of their Safety Culture.  It sounds like your son became complacent after 10 years of service.  I wish him luck, but I can't fault Lowe's for enforcing a Safety Policy.  By calling the LP a rat and snitch, I assume you probably have problems with everyone in a position of authority.  Its time to take ownership and move on. 

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#27 UPDATE EX-employee responds

accident policy

AUTHOR: GRAVY - ()

POSTED: Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I worked at Lowes for 5 years and was fired for driving without a spotter.

The company has rules for a reason and they are self-insured.

The rules state that unless you have a harness on you CANNOT enter a blocked aisle for any reason.

And if the order picker is above 8 feet then You must block both the aisle the picker is in and

also the next aisle as well and have a spotter watch the next aisle.

Lowes makes all employees take a computer test to get a power equipment license

and also a actual driving test.   Lowes is strict on safety for a good reason.

No one has ever died in an accident at Lowes.  Home Depot and Walmart have

killed employees and customers in accidents.

Failure to obey the proper rules is a class A violation and always results in automatictermination of emploeement.

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#26 Consumer Comment

Door Value

AUTHOR: 1down5upgeargirl - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, April 28, 2012

It may have been $3500 in doors and 45 second violation, but to Lowes that was probably only $600 worth of material and a life-long injury they have on their hands.

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#25 UPDATE EX-employee responds

yeah...

AUTHOR: Fry1987 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, March 22, 2012

I used to be an employee of lowes, In May, i would have hit 4 years. Lets not go any further than that, i was recently fired, no big deal.

I feel for your son,  Im not sure how he is doing, but im 24years of age. But, as i recall, there was no rule stating you had to wear a harness behind that "saftey zone", not to my knowledge atleast. I do remember seeing a rule is if your above 8ft, is when you need those isle blockers. Also on the "order picker" machines, with the harness, you need to be wearing a harness etc for anytime that you use the machine, to go on floor or in air.

I have seen people numerous times stand behind it, Im not sure what the exact rules are but i knew the basics of them. My store personally did many things that broke the rules itself, I wish i had evidence of these, because it would be a perfect case against the company. I know of many things that the store did against the rules of their own.

Put it this way, store was decent place to work, little freedom basically. Big shots come in and everything has to be perfect, wear vest at all times, even if you dont normally wear it due to being in receiving or delivery(gets hot). but needless to say the store "shapes up" when they come around.

But also, safety violations fall under i think theyre called class a violation, which is immediate termination, Now depending on the people who see it, it doesnt progress anywhere near that. But if you get some jerk, that dont like you, they report it. SO my store was pretty forgiving on alot of things.

And i will say this nd be frank, home depot is doing better than lowes, Lowes recently took away commission for all SOS sales etc. up to 25% of appliance sales persons paycheck. that leads them not want to sale as much, I remember hearing about a customer being told youll have to wait till im done with this order then ill be right with you. Where as before, theyll help all they can, ASAP. you never find employees to help anymore, they just dont care. But like i keep saying, Lowes gets rid of the GOOD WORKERS, but keep the lazy ones that dont do anything. I guess that way they can keep the budget in order for pays??  Employee gets to good theyll need more money, type thinking that corporate does.

But the reason i got fired was for something I personally did, i downgraded another associate, which in my mind, didnt justify anything. So i accept it how it is.

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#24 UPDATE EX-employee responds

safety rules

AUTHOR: fish - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, December 17, 2011

I used to be a manager at Home Depot and I can assure you that any safety violation will  definately get you fired the first time without a doubt.  It is company policy and any body that told you otherwise is lying.

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#23 UPDATE EX-employee responds

safety rules

AUTHOR: fish - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, December 15, 2011

Lowes policy states that any violation of safety rules can be punished by termination, even for a first  violation.  It was standard policy in the two separate lowes stores that I worked for to terminate an employee for any safety violation.  Your son knew the rules and violated them.  Lowes had a right to fire him.

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#22 UPDATE EX-employee responds

safety rules

AUTHOR: fish - (United States of America)

POSTED: Sunday, December 11, 2011

I have worked for both Lowes and Home Depot.  At either company, a safety violation results in automatic termination.  It doesn't matter what your work record is.  Both companies put customer and employee safety first.  To violate safety rules at either company will get you fired on the spot.

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#21 Consumer Suggestion

THD

AUTHOR: jjj20092 - (United States of America)

POSTED: Thursday, July 14, 2011

I would suggest a person of your knowledge and status would be much more appreciated @ a Home depot store,  as you can see,  the difference of RORs on this website, I believe THD is a great company and they take care of thier employees.

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#20 Consumer Comment

Lowes was correct.

AUTHOR: karmadragon - (United States of America)

POSTED: Sunday, June 19, 2011

45 seconds is more than enough time to get seriously injured or killed.  That your son cared more for Lowe's INSURED doors than his own safety or those around him tells me he's no one I would want to work near.  Those rules are there to limit liability to the company and protect him.  He should have let those fools on the Hi Lift get themselves fired instead of jumping in to join them in unemployment.  It's bad for him, but it is what it is.

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#19 UPDATE Employee

BLOWES TACTICS AND IGNORANT CONSUMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

AUTHOR: BLOWES Employee - (United States of America)

POSTED: Tuesday, October 05, 2010

I couldnt agree more, and as far as all these people standing up for BLOWES you must be dedicated customers, because all you ignorant people come into BLOWES and look and treat everyone of the hard working employees with nothing but disdain and pitty. Well you need to understand that it is you that is causing hard working people like this mans son to lose his job.

If any of you had any compassion you would not support this behavior and shop at a local company and you LOCAL economy and pay a little more, and to this mans father, so you are stopping shopping at BLOWES and are going to shop at HOME DEPOT????????????????????????? WHATTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How do you expect people to support you when you trade one CORPORATE company for ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOP LOCAL BUY FROM LOCAL NON CORPORATE COMPANY'S, this is the mark of ACTION not useless banter on the internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But good luck to your son and his family.

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#18 UPDATE Employee

The Truth??

AUTHOR: Paul - (United States of America)

POSTED: Monday, September 27, 2010

I work for this company, almost 11 years. The most important thing at Lowe's is safety. Lowe's has a ZERO tolerance for safety violations. What your son did was go inside the aisle blockers while power equipment was being operated there. That is a Class "A" violation, subject to immediate termination. Power equipment can be deadly if not given the proper respect. After 10 years this should have instilled into your son. Lowe's is more concerned with the safety of their employees and customers than damaged product. The department manager should have told them to stop what they were doing immediately, but walking away would have been a second choice.


The first thing your son did wrong was to interfere with the operation that was going on. It may look like the equipment is simple to operate but it does require concentration. The second thing is, the confusion in what equipment was being used. The cherry picker requires that the operator wear a full body harness, but the cherry picker has no exposed forks. (forks banging around) The reach lift does not require a harness and has exposed forks. Which machine was it supposed to be? A reach lift would be used to put palletized, shrink wrapped doors in top stock, no need to grab falling doors if it's palletized properly. Sounds like they were using a picker to manually put doors up. If that is the case the only one required to wear a harness is the operator. Was your son the operator? If not he is not required to wear a harness. But you can be instantly terminated for moving a picker a fraction of an inch without wearing the harness. 

On the subject of people being terminated without notice...... I've been written up several times and put on final notice a few times, but I'm still here. One thing I've learned is that no one is indispensable in retail. Lowe's is tightening it's corporate belt. You want to keep your job, follow the rules, plain and simple. You are in charge of your future with the company. If you look at violations they are up to and including termination

The medical coverage is outstanding in today's world. Not as good as the UAW "had", OH but wait! How many of the UAW lost their jobs when the plants closed and the companies had to be bailed out??? A few?? Maybe tens of thousands? 

Sorry there is a snow job going on here somewhere.........................
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#17 UPDATE EX-employee responds

LOWES IS RIGHT

AUTHOR: Ronald - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Lets get this straight, your son was fired by not wearing a safety harness in this area and was fired for it. Ain't no way no how, the only time you need a safety harness in you is if you are on what is called a"cherry picker" and believe me you want one on. So right there your sonny boy is lying to you. Also you say he told you that he had never been written up before, again lying. The only time  Lowes will fire you right on the spot is for STEALING. I worked there for 6 1/2 years and I loved the place, never written up never scolded. When I worked there you got free stock in Lowes company so if your son worked there as long as you say then he should have quite a bit of free stock (they have since stopped doing this) I left there with a lot of stock money in my pockets.
Every company must have safety rules but you son is blowing smoke up tour azz about why he was fired! Oh and last time I compared prices between Lowes and Home Depot they are only a couple of pennies apart from each other except when they run there so-called specials. Can't blow smoke up my azz, Lowes is a good place to work. Granted I am quite sure that at each of Lowes stores that there is a b*****d boss but they still have to go by state and federal safety laws. And anyone complaining about poor service it's not so much that then it is sometimes a employee is busy with another customer.
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#16 General Comment

Sounds like Lowe's

AUTHOR: Chrys - (United States of America)

POSTED: Sunday, November 08, 2009

I work at the Lowe's Distribution Center and do not know much about how the actual stores are but everything you have said about your son's termination sounds exactly like what lowe's does at my distribution center. The past few months they have been firing people for violating this rule or that rule but the interesting thing is the only people that seem to be fired are the people who are almost at the max pay for a team member or are at max pay. And the other interesting thing at my rdc is that some of the rules the employees violated do not always apply to every employee. I am just waiting to be terminated but I guess I have about another year before my pay will be to high.


And on the Safety issue. My boyfriend also works at my RDC and he has been there for almost 3 years. He has never been in an accident of any kind until about 3 weeks ago.


After his accident which nothing was damaged the upper managment has put him on a final which means he cannot do anything wo being fired and remains on that final for a year. (My boyfriend is a year away from reaching max per hour pay.) 


Now I do believe that putting people on a final is a good thing but it is supposed to be an intial warning, written warning, and then final. Not a final right off the bat.


Im sorry for your son but atleast he is out of that awful company. I am currently looking for a new employment but w this employment crisis its hard (as you and your son know.)   ~Go Home Depot~ :)


Wish your son the best.


P.S. I could give many more examples of stupid reasons that people have been put on finals just in the past month. (Bumping into a trash can being one of them). 

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#15 UPDATE EX-employee responds

Safety Book

AUTHOR: Rich - (USA)

POSTED: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

I feel for your son. It sounds as though he has hit a bit of a rough patch. I did want to comment though, to your "safety book" passage because you are misinformed. There are certain violations that EVERY employee is made aware when they are first hired. Safety being the #1 priority at this company, this is included in the highest tier of violations. This means there are NO excuses, and a violation of this type is an instant termination. The dollar amount of the product which would be damaged is not important, what's important is your sons safety. He neglected to follow the basic rules which he was instructed upon, and because of that he has become a liability. In fact if your son had not been fired I would frown upon Lowe's unwillingness to stick their safety policies.   As a test google "Lowe's death" and read the entires that come up, I cannot find one that has to so with safety negligence. Now google "Home depot death" and you'll be treated to quite a few pages of horror stories.  Something to think about, and I hope your son finds a job.

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#14 Author of original report

Dear Mr. why isn't son fighting for his job.

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, October 04, 2009

I can feel the sneer and curled lips when you use the words, sonny boy is letting daddy pay his bills and his hasn't been carring his share of his problems with Lowes.

Well, you don't know what the hell you are talking about and probably never understand what son-father relationship is.  Both he and I have sent many e-mails to Lowes Headquarters.  Believe me when I say, he is looking for work and will take any job there is.  Now he might keep it very long, if the people are as uncaring as the people at Lowes.

I don't know if you are an orphan, if you dad died when you were young or if you are a product of a one night stand and a son of a sperm donor who doesn't give a d**n who or what you are.

If you were my son and you hadn't caused me any real problems when you went through your teenage years.  You did good in school.  Made me proud, as the center of the high school basketball team.  You worked 26 years with out being layed off or fired, never have drawn one dollar in unemployment.  Good and kind family man, who beileves in the Golden Rule.  Do un to others as you would have they do unto you.  I would help you in every way I could. 

But, with you mouth and attitude about other peoples hardships, I doubt if you would get a dime out of me and I wouldn't give a d**n about you.  You can sure believe me, when I say, I am no soft touch.  I got my money the hard way, I worked for every d**n cent of it, hour by hour, week after week and year after year.  How did you get yours, if you got any money.

Not being a rich man, but living pretty good.  He might as well get some of my money now, than after I died and see what inheritance I left and have him say, why didn't he help me when I realy needed it.  Though you might not like, I am going to keep helping him all that I can and I don't give a d**n what you think.  I still think what Lowes did to him is pretty chicken s**t.  I am glad he out and I'm sorry they got 10 years of his life.

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#13 Author of original report

Dear Mr. why isn't son fighting for his job.

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, October 04, 2009

I can feel the sneer and curled lips when you use the words, sonny boy is letting daddy pay his bills and his hasn't been carring his share of his problems with Lowes.

Well, you don't know what the hell you are talking about and probably never understand what son-father relationship is.  Both he and I have sent many e-mails to Lowes Headquarters.  Believe me when I say, he is looking for work and will take any job there is.  Now he might keep it very long, if the people are as uncaring as the people at Lowes.

I don't know if you are an orphan, if you dad died when you were young or if you are a product of a one night stand and a son of a sperm donor who doesn't give a d**n who or what you are.

If you were my son and you hadn't caused me any real problems when you went through your teenage years.  You did good in school.  Made me proud, as the center of the high school basketball team.  You worked 26 years with out being layed off or fired, never have drawn one dollar in unemployment.  Good and kind family man, who beileves in the Golden Rule.  Do un to others as you would have they do unto you.  I would help you in every way I could. 

But, with you mouth and attitude about other peoples hardships, I doubt if you would get a dime out of me and I wouldn't give a d**n about you.  You can sure believe me, when I say, I am no soft touch.  I got my money the hard way, I worked for every d**n cent of it, hour by hour, week after week and year after year.  How did you get yours, if you got any money.

Not being a rich man, but living pretty good.  He might as well get some of my money now, than after I died and see what inheritance I left and have him say, why didn't he help me when I realy needed it.  Though you might not like, I am going to keep helping him all that I can and I don't give a d**n what you think.  I still think what Lowes did to him is pretty chicken s**t.  I am glad he out and I'm sorry they got 10 years of his life.

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#12 Consumer Comment

NO MORE LOWES SHOPPING FOR ME

AUTHOR: indy - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, October 04, 2009
Bob: I am just south of you in north-east Indianapolis and I shop frequently at the Lowe's on 82nd Street and the Lowe's at Glendale Mall---looks like I will be driving a little farther to 96th Street to go to either Home Depot or Menard's. I spend at least five thousand dollars a year at Lowe's each year. (In 2006 and 2007 with the construction of my new office building, I had spent over 25K dollars each year and also forced my subcontractors also use Lowe's materials.) My thirteen-year Lowe's addiction has just been broken by reading your postings here. What's so sad is I will miss some of my favorite employees at Lowe's though, but it is imperative to follow what my heart and my mind tell me to do!!!!!  Eric M.
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#11 Author of original report

So you don't think i'm credible, let me explain.

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, October 04, 2009

I would like to ask the person who said, that there is no such thing as medical bankrupty.  Sir, just what planet do you live on?  It is the biggest reason for bankrupty in the country.  Sir, what do you call, filing for bankrupty when your medicals are more than you will make in pay for the next 10 years and you can't pay them.  IT MEDICAL BANKRUPTY.


Now this "medical bankrupty" didn't just happen over night. It took a little over 3 years, 4 major operations and the medical bills my son and his wife had for her mental breakdown after her last operation.  With this bankruptsy, the hospitals forgave over $25,000 in bills. Probably chump change for you.


As for COBRA, we all know what the rule book says.  But in real life is just doesn't work just that way.  Even tho some people and like us thought that you had insurance for 30 days after termination, NOT SO.  Lowes cancelled his insurance the day he was fired.  It took Lowes 3 weeks to supply imformation for COBRA and 2 weeks to receive after sending in the papers. 1 month and 1 week with out insurance.


With the new law the government has passed, your bills are not forgiven,  You have to still pay them off.  My son is paying $250 to get out from under them.


As for respect for typical retail managers.  My son did have a very kind and intellegent store manager.  I don't know how he got though Lowes screening.  Just Google up ( people who hate lowes).  Good store managers at Lowes are hard to come buy.  He tried for 2 week to keep my son from being fired.  It all came down from Lowes Headquarters in North Carolina.


And for as his mother fignting for him, she was shocked, why he was fired.  Now me his father.  I am livid with anger for how and why he was fired.  In a company with a smart owner or with a union this would not even have happened.  I know, I was a Industrial Pipefitter/Plumber and contractor with over 40 years in the trade.  Tell me what you do for a living. I'll bet it was not getting dirty and down in the trenches and I know it not from studying the economy and how to deal with unemployment department in Indiana.


Both him and I e-mailed, CEO robert.n.niblock@lowes.com, cathrine.m.keown@lowes.com Human resources manger and corporate attorney Jenniferk.swartz@lowes.com.  There is no kindness or forgiveness for a 10 loyal employee.  I glad he is out of Lowes, I am sorry he gave them 10 years of his life.  I never knew how bad Lowes treated their employees, untill this happen and I went into the internet and found out the truth.

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#10 General Comment

I don't understand...

AUTHOR: Steve - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, October 03, 2009

If Lowe's is such a horrible company to work for, why would you want your son to have his job back at Lowes?

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#9 Consumer Comment

credible?

AUTHOR: Alsdair - (USA)

POSTED: Saturday, October 03, 2009

There are so many little things in your report that just don't add up, I have to wonder how objective this report is.  There is no such thing as "Medical Bankruptcy" and it is unclear how the quality of a company's health care benefit impacts a former employee who is not covered by the plan.  An employee has 30 days to accept or decline COBRA coverage (which is not cheap but costs you no more than it did the company).   Unemployment cannot reject your son's claim if his termination was due to a single incident. Perhaps your advocacy would be better directed toward the state.
I sympathize with your son; I have little respect for the judgment of the typical retail manager.  But there appears to be more issues here than you are admitting to. Let's be honest - a 46 year-old man's mom is writing letters to get his job back for him - there are other issues. 
Although you may have every reason to be furious with Lowes, I can't accept your representation of the situation as entirely accurate.

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#8 Consumer Comment

Why is son not fighting for his job?

AUTHOR: Kim - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Saturday, October 03, 2009

I understand that Daddy wants son to get another job so he won't have to pay all of sonny boys bills, but why is the son not trying to get his job back? Dad was the one that emailed everyone at Lowe's about getting his sons job back.  It's not like son is a 16 year old on his first job, he's 46 years old.  He needs to be the one fighting for his job.  No one at Lowe's should have responded to a single email from Dad, it's a personnel issue that does not involve dad.


Dad has not been ripped off by Lowe's.  Sounds more like you've been ripped off by a son that is perfectly content to let you pay his bills.

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#7 Author of original report

To: Mr. I know where you are coming from, BUT.

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Saturday, October 03, 2009

You seem to think I don't know anything about what when on and that I don't know anything about safety.  You think that I am fighting just for my son.  But here is what you are not understanding, is just how bad Lowes treats all of it's hourly workers.  I know he is fired and he not going back.  But don't let your friend grow up and work for Lowes.  Just Google in ( people who hate Lowes)

Well to start off, I went to the store and seen where this terrible unforgivable rule was broken.  I also talked to the store manager.  Believe me when I say,    it was nothing. If the young LP man had not made something out of it, it would have been nothing.

Now about safety.  I was a pipefitter for Ford Motor company for 38 years and a state licenced plumbing contractor for 40 years.  I taught many apprentices and I was part of a UAW safety program, teaching apprentices about safety.  I have work in some of the most dangerous conditions you can think of.  I know what the hell I am talking about.  Tell me how much you know and your experiences in how and where to wear a safety harness.

I been the deepest darkest holes and tanks and hanging off the side of a 100 foot water tower installing new steam lines on it.  Yes, I was in my safety/climbing harness.  In confined spaces, we wore them, so they could pull our bodies out if anything went wrong and if we fell from high places.

But at Ford and GM, you didn't have to wear a safety/climbing harness, unless you were in a confined space, in a lift-a-lift, cherry picker, any kind of a man lift or you were climbing in or on high steel or high places, if it was unprotected.  You did not have to wear one if you were not climbing and yes, I know about goverment safety inspectors and all the power they have and how they are some times very stupid in some of their rules.  Don't get started on them.

I know that one thing, Lowes has realy put the hurt on my son, for nothing.  It's been almost 3 months and still hasn't found a job.  There just isn't any, with over 15% unemployment, here in Indiana.  But with people like you, clear thinking and kindness is not one of your finer points.  Is it?

 

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#6 Author of original report

Home Depot guy, your answer.

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Rob's dad, to the guy that said, "he should work for Home Depot.  He applied to Home Depot and Menards.  Had an interview with both store managers.  They told him that, with his15 years with Builders Square, (as Department manager of Plumbing, Home and garden, Lumber and mill work and asistant store manager, before the company went out of business and his 10 years of being department manager and specialist at Lowes.

They told him with his 25 years of experience, they would hire him to day.  BUT, here in Indiana we have a 15% unemployment , one hell of a lot of forclosures, they were having problems keeping the people they presently had. 

Headquarters thought that there was going to be an improvement in the economy and by early spring things were going to be real good.  They put him atthe top of their list and told him, that the first opening they had they would call and to keep in touch with them.

They both told him they would not have fired for the stupid reason Lowes did.

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#5 Consumer Comment

I understand where you are coming from...But

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

No one here does not feel bad or is not sympathetic your Son's situation.  But a lot of companies do not take safety lightly.


No one here was present at the incident that got him fired, this includes yourself.  No one here knows about his 10 Years of service directly, and yes this includes you.  What you know about this incident and his employment is what your Son told you.  All we know is what you are writing based on what you got from your Son.  Think of the old party game "Telephone", where someone says something and it goes through a line of people.  By the time it gets to the end 9 out of 10 times it is no where close to what was originally said.  I am not saying he didn't tell you everything, but I am also not saying that he did.  Also, I know he is your Son, but he is also 46 years old.  Why are you the one trying to "fight" this battle?


Now you mentioned the Lowes Rule Book and how there would be various warnings first.  For things such as showing up late, or taking long lunches I would agree with you violations of this sort should have warnings first.  But a Safety violation is not the same as showing up late.  One could get you injured(or worse), one can't.  I'll let you decide which is which.


There is something else you are probably overlooking.  Most workplaces fall under the guidelines of OSHA(Occupational Safety and Health Administration), or a similar State agency.  Especially when there are things such as Saws, Forklifts, and other industrial equipment.  These agencies not only have the power to monitor, but fine or worse shut down businesses if they are unsafe.  Even if a company is 100% in compliance the last thing they want is an OSHA investigation.


So when your Son had a Safety violation, that was beyond Lowes and they had to fire him or they could be subject to OSHA fines.  So while you may think it is not fair, your Son did make a mistake.  The only hope is that he has learned more from this incident than you seem to have done.


Also, if you could please explain what you were trying to say when you said "You contractors and you women give them a try." 

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#4 General Comment

There are degrees of infractions

AUTHOR: Inspector - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I am sure that if you are caught stealing, they would not give you a verbal warning.  Safety violations are even more serious in that they could result in the injury or death of not only your son but others. 

Even minor infractions cannot be summarily dismissed.  No one wants your boy to be fired but, in order to learn from this and move on, you must get past your denial of the problem.  You are correct, I am not perfect and I have had worse things for screw ups in my life but, I accepted the consequences and moved on.

Blaming others is not moving on.

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#3 Author of original report

Lowes safety book!

AUTHOR: Bob Miller - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

I can't understand the total lack of humanity and fairness in the rebuttals that have been given.  These people act like they're the queen of hearts in Alice in Wonder Land.  Crying "off with his head".  Even in Lowes rule book, it states that in any company rule violation, that there would be first a verbal warning, then a written warning, a final notice and then termination.  Lowes broke their own rules by going straight to termination with a 10 year employee who had nothing written up on him in their files, he had a perfect record. He worked approximately 20,000 hours for Lowes with no violations and for a 45 second mistake, he is fired with no remorse, or fairness. You people who are so against him, if you are caught speeding, do you think your driver's license should be suspended for life? This is the same idea that happened to him, go right for the jugular vein. I hope you "perfect people", when you make your next mistake, and you will, lose your job, your driver's license, or your freedom. That's the kind of world you want us to live in.

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#2 General Comment

Safety issues are far more important than property.

AUTHOR: Inspector - (USA)

POSTED: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

If employees are allowed to violate safety protocol then their insurance rates would soar or be cancelled.  Your son's action put the store in the high risk catagory and terminating his employment is their only recourse.  It would have cost them far more to keep him.

We have come a long way to make the work place safe for the workers, we do not want to go back to the old days.  The lesson here is to prevent others from following suit.  Besides, the inventory is insured for damage/loss. 

Maybe your son could get a job at HD?   But first he needs to understand the importance of following the rules or no job will take him.

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#1 Consumer Comment

A safety violation is a safety violation.

AUTHOR: Robert - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

He violated the companies safety requirements.  There is no defense.  Would it be better if your son were permanently disable due to an injury?

Apparently your son's safety is more important to Lowes than $4500 worth of doors.

 

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