Walmart fired an employee in its Hartland store after he tried to help a woman who was allegedly being assaulted in the store’s parking lot. The man, who had only been working at the store for seven weeks, was fired for his involvement in the incident.
The 30-year-old man was spending his lunch break in his car at 2:30 a.m. when he noticed a confrontation between a man and a woman in the parking lot. When he walked over to investigate, he discovered a woman trying to remove a man from the hood of her vehicle. When the 30-year-old asked the woman if she needed help, the other man grabbed him and pulled him inside the vehicle. Soon, two other men began to beat the 30-year-old. Police quickly arrived at the scene. After the incident, the 30-year-old was fired by Walmart for violating company policy.
According to reports, Walmart has a policy against violence in the workplace, which is aimed at preventing employees from taking on shoplifters or assaulting co-workers. The rules, however, also seem to affect employees who use violence in cases of self-defense or imminent danger.
After he was released from employment, the man expressed disbelief and confusion. At the time or reporting, Walmart had not made any comments regarding the incident.
The man in this case may be able to pursue a wrongful termination claim against the company. An attorney might be able to help the man by researching the situation as well as providing advice concerning available legal actions. That attorney may also represent the man in negotiations or in civil court.
Source: WXYZ, “Walmart employee fired after trying to help assault victim in store parking lot “, Kimberly Craig, October 17, 2013