In a shocking incident, two employees were terminated from a Lululemon store in Georgia after reporting a theft to the police in violation of the company’s policies.
In a brazen, daylight robbery last month, three masked and hooded criminals stormed into the Peachtree Corners store, stealing thousands of dollars worth of clothes. The assistant manager at the time, Jennifer Ferguson, and key leader, Rachel Rogers, confronted the thieves and even caught their deeds on camera. They felt anything but safe and protected in that situation and decided to report the crime to the police.
However, when they called the police, Rogers and Ferguson were apparently going against their company’s “no-tolerance policy.” Lululemon’s restrictive rules apparently prioritize not scaring customers away, so taking action in the face of criminal activity is discouraged.
In fact, Lululemon’s policy for employees is not to get involved, make way for the criminals, scan a QR code after the incident, and not to alert the police. Despite Rogers capturing the crime on video, the police report indicates that the three shoplifters are facing felony robbery charges.
Rogers and Ferguson were both fired soon after the incident, with no clear explanation other than a vague reference to the company’s no-tolerance policy. Perhaps even more troubling, they are now both faced with the financial burdens of supporting themselves and their family without a solid source of income.
Lululemon’s nonsensical policies prioritize their image and sales over the well-being and safety of their employees. In times like these, we must question the priorities of companies who place their profit margins above essential human concerns.
Rogers and Ferguson may have paid the price for their employers’ unreasonable expectations, but they are not alone in striving for change. For a world where employee safety and wellbeing is rightfully placed above corporate greed, we must continue to shed light on incidents like these and hope for a better future.
