Hey guys, I have a fun story about when I use to work retail. A little bit of back story, when I was 20 I use to work at the oh so famous Wal-Mart in a not so safe neighborhood, this Wal-Mart had many instances where customers and employees were attacked/jumped in the parking lot (remember this because this is what the story is about). The players in this will be Entitled Assistant Manager (EAM), Entitled Floor Manager (EFM) , Cool Floor Manager(CFM), Store Manager(SM) and myself.

So my position at Wal-Mart was almost a Jack of all traits, they would tend to put me in any department depending on the needs for the day, it was to the point that I would hear my name mentioned over the stores radio asking for me to go to a different department frequently. Now when I was hired on I was told that in my "contract" the management team can put me in areas needed at anytime during my shift (as long as I could work the area or had a certificate to use certain machinery). The only thing that could stop them from putting me in certain areas was the law stating that if I don't feel safe or I feel that doing a certain task could harm me (don't know if its a Federal law or just a state law) that they legally can't force me to do it.

At the time this started I was working in the Sporting goods department when CFM approached me.

CFM: Hey OP, they need you to go push carts outside.

Me: Sorry CFM but too many people have been jumped in our parking lot which makes me not feel safe, I'm not going to do that.

CFM: Hey man I'm only the messenger but I'll try to tell the manager who is asking you to do this that you don't feel safe doing that.

Me: Thanks, if you guys need me elsewhere you know where I'll be.

CFM then leaves radioing the manager asking for me about what we talked about, I thought that this would be fine and went on with my day. Well, about a few minutes later I see EFM fast walking towards me. Now before this instance I never had a problem personally with the guy but he has always been entitled cause he felt his little position gave him power. So he stops next to me and this is how the conversation went.

EFM: OP, you need to go outside and help with carts, now!

Me still trying to be polite tell him what I said to CFM: Sorry EFM but like I said to CFM too many people have been jumped in our parking lot which makes me not feel safe.

EFM: The parking lot is safe and you know it. Go out there now!

Me: Dude...... You don't remember one of the cashiers yesterday being attacked while she was getting to her car and all the police cars that showed up? I do, that isn't the first time stuff like that happened, again I will not put myself in danger.

EFM looking angry cause he's not getting his way with me says: So you are refusing to listen to what you are told to do by your superior?

Me: Seriously? You know you can't force someone to do something at work if they don't feel safe right?

EFM: I never heard of anything like that. If you are going to act this way then I think we need to write you up. Follow me to the managers office.

Me: Whatever you say.

So we both head to the managers office where all of them are sitting at computers doing whatever managers do.

EFM: So I got OP here refusing to go outside and push carts, go ahead OP tell them what you told me.

He got a grin on his face thinking that he won some battle at this point.

Me sighing: I don't feel safe pushing carts because of the many times the store reported people getting attacked in the parking lot, I was told before that if I don't feel safe with a task that management can't force me to do the task. Now for some reason EFM doesn't know about this law and now is trying to force me to go outside. If I am forced to go out and push carts then I will just get in my car and leave and deal with the write up.

Now the managers office also had a smaller office in the back that had all the cameras for the store and out the doorway I saw SM scoot his chair back and look straight at us.

SM: So OP you don't feel safe out there?

Me: Yes sir.

SM: Interesting! Hey OP what department do we have you in today?

Me: Sporting Goods.

SM: Ok good, please go back there and just continue working, management here needs to talk. Once we are done we will come and update you on what is going to happen.

They let me out of the office and close the door, I went back to my department and continued what I was doing. About 30 minutes later I see EFM coming back to me.

EFM: Hey OP, do you got a second to talk.

Me putting down the items I was putting up said: Sure what's up?

EFM looking upset: I have to apologize about earlier, I didn't know about the law you brought up and want to tell you that I was out of line for acting the way I was.

Me trying not to laugh cause I knew I was in the right: Its ok man, I know you want to move up the chain here and I think this was a good learning lesson for you.

EFM: Yeah your right, well continue working and we will call you if we need you somewhere else.

He left with his tail between his legs, I felt relieved that management backed me up and I continued my work. Now I thought that this was the end of it but I wouldn't have put EAM in the beginning if it was.

Later on in the day I went to the front end of the store to collect stuff that customers didn't want, I had my phone out because we were able to use the companies app to help us find where products went, as I was heading back to my department when I saw EAM coming towards me as she was also waving at me to get me to notice her. As soon as I could I had the instinct to turn on the camera app on my phone and started to record us, this is what was said.

EAM: Hey OP I need to talk to you!

Me: Sure what's up?

EAM: So you don't feel safe at all working outside?

Me kinda confused on why she is asking this: Yeah? Why?

EAM: Well honey I don't want to be the person to mention this but if it your time to be jumped then its your time, so why don't you go out there and push those carts ok, I don't want to write you up for not doing your job.

Me: Wow so you're telling me that you'll write me up because I don't feel safe doing something huh? I think I'm going to talk to SM real quick to see if this is also part of the law.

EAM: We don't need to involve him, just go do your job!

Me: No I think he needs to know this so that's what I'm going to go do.

I marched myself to the back office again, luckily SM was still there

SM: What's up OP?

Me: Sir I think you need to hear this.

I pulled out my phone and proceeded to show him the video of EAM trying to force me to go outside. The look on his face went from contempt to annoyed real quick.

SM: Hey OP, send me that video and (he pulls out his radio) Can EAM please report back to the managers office.

So I sent him that video and as soon as EAM showed up She saw me and instantly got upset.

EAM: Sir let me tell you what really happened.

SM: No need (he held up his phone) why don't we both sit here and listen together on what "really" happened.

SM told me to leave and locked the door behind me. I didn't know what else to do so I just went back to my department and continued what I was originally doing. It wasn't long until I saw CFM running back to me looking concerned.

CFM: OP dude what the hell just happened?

Me: With what?

CFM: Dude EAM just got suspended from work. Apparently she was told that her actions are not what managers do and that she cant force someone to do things they don't feel safe doing cause she has a title. I just assumed it had something to do with you cause of what happened to EFM.

Me: Hey I did say that I didn't feel comfortable pushing carts, its not my fault that management here needs a refresher on what the law is.

Well after this, about a week or 2, I finally saw EAM return to work, she wasn't too happy to see me but she did have to apologize.