FGXI Foster Grant uncaring and unsympathetic Smithfield, Rhode Island

FGXI is a well-known company that has its products in many retail stores throughout the United States and over seas.  I worked as a merchandiser for nearly nine years.  For the first 8 years I had a wonderful, hardworking supportive district manager.  I worked all my stores on time and as a professional.  I never had a single complaint and never had a late store.  As the company grew, I was assigned a new district manager.  I've never complained about a supervisor before but this woman was so incompetent that I decided I either needed to quit or contact her supervisor.  When I contacted the regional manager he told me that he'd take care of it.  His "taking care of it" was to call her and tell her exactly what I told him.  She called and screamed at me and couldn't believe I did that (apparently I wasn't the only one with complaints) - This made for a very uncomfortable and hostile work environment. 

Eventually this manager (whom I never met) filed a disability claim and no longer works for FGXI.  I was assigned a new district manager.  She was wonderful though that only last about 5 months before I was reassigned to another district manager.

While working for FGXI on October 11, 2012 I was robbed at gunpoint while putting glasses on the display.  I was comfortable working for the larger stores (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, etc) but many of the Family Dollar and Dollar General stores are in remote spots in low-density areas.  This particular store was in a bad part of town and I always visited it in the middle of the day.

I have always been aware of the possibility of being at risk getting in and out of my car all day.  Usually, I didn't carry a purse - this day I had my purse with me though I put it in the box of glasses so it wasn't obvious.

This was quite traumatic and my district manager and regional manager called and talked with me.  They were supportive and seemed concerned.  Both employees recommended that I call Denise Chittick in Human Resources at the office in Rhode Island.  My loss was slightly over $1,250.00.  I had receipts for my purse and wallet because I had just purchased them.  I also had my cell phone and car keys in the purse as well as a number of other things.  My home and car had to be re-keyed by a locksmith because the thief had the keys and my address.

I left four messages for Denise Chittick.  She never called me back.  I called until she picked up the phone and she seemed pretty unhappy that she answered the call.  I asked why she didn't return my call and she said "she was busy" - this was five days after my initial phone call - she can't make the time to call an employee who could have been shot on the job.  She was unprofessional, rude and insulting.  My husband was home so I put it on speaker phone.  He was as stunned as I was.  I told her that I was quitting because I was fearful of some of the isolated areas I was sent to.  She said,"That's your choice - we're not firing you".  I just wanted to find out if FGXI had any insurance to cover the loss of my purse and contents.  She told a few stories about items missing from employee desks at the home office.  I asked if they were robbed at gunpoint.  She said they had no obligation to me.  I wondered about a moral obligation to a long time employee?  I wondered if they had an obligation to send flowers to my funeral if I had been shot and killed on the job?  She said some insulting things to me - I'm shocked that this would be a person who works in human resources.  Wow!

I wrote a letter to the president of FGXI, Jack Flynn.  He never even had the courtesy to reply to my letter.  I think these unusual and frightening circumstances would have warranted a small portion to help me recover my losses but I guess they save all their money to pay Raquel Welch and Brooke Shields to represent their company.  I would give this company two thumbs down for "lack of human decency and lack of professional employees at the "professional" level"!