Lululemon fired two employees that confronted masked robbers
Two Georgia women — including an assistant manager — are blasting Lululemon for sacking them from their jobs after they called the police while three masked men pillaged the store.
Shocking video shows the brazen thieves burst into the Peachtree Corners store in metro Atlanta earlier this month to grab as many fistfuls of athletic clothing as possible.
“No, no, no, you can march back out,” former assistant manager Jennifer Ferguson can be heard saying.
The looters — who had allegedly struck the store nearly a dozen times prior — momentarily stood in the store doorway and stared at the women before jumping back inside to snatch several more pairs of leggings.
“Seriously? Get out,” the frustrated retail worker says to the men.
“Chill, b–tch, shut your ass up,” one of the thieves can be heard responding.
The women follow the group outside and watch as they pile into their getaway car, but notably do not try to physically stop the thieves — which has caused workers to lose their jobs or face charges in the past.
Instead, they reported the robbery to the Gwinnett Police Department, who later tracked down the thieves and charged them with felony robbery charges.
The group of thieves has reportedly hit the Lululemon store various times in the past. 11 Alive
The move, however, cost them their jobs, they claim.
“We are not supposed to get in the way. You kind of clear path for whatever they’re going to do,” Ferguson told 11Alive.
“And then, after it’s over, you scan a QR code. And that’s that. We’ve been told not to put it in any notes, because that might scare other people. We’re not supposed to call the police, not really supposed to talk about it.”
Ferguson and five-year team member Rachel Rogers — who captured the robbery on camera — said they were openly questioned by a regional manager on their decision to call the police before they were fired from the store.
Ferguson’s husband, Jason, took to Facebook to commend the women and slam Lululemon for punishing their brave
The Lululemon workers followed the men outside and recorded the robbery. 11 Alive
“I am more than proud to announce that my wife went into ‘fight’ mode. She protected herself and the other employees and the store by yelling at them to get out. She defended her space and her people,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This is where my blood begins to boil. These are two exemplary employees, both leaders and looking to advance within the company. And what was their reward? They were immediately terminated without mention of severance or any financial consideration.”
Both women said they weren’t given “specific reasoning” for their immediate terminations other than that Lululemon has a “no-tolerance policy.”
According to Jason, the women were told it would “look bad for Lululemon to be the company calling the police.”
Former assistant manager Jennifer Ferguson said she was immediately fired without severance. 11 Alive
“Are you kidding me? These ladies are heroes of sorts. They did what we all HOPE we could do in a similar situation. They were brave and courageous and honest and good citizens,” Jason added.
The women also claimed they were denied severance for the rule-breaking, which delivered a major blow to the income they rely on.
A corporation spokesperson told The Post that the Lululemon handbook does have a zero-tolerance policy on chasing or physically engaging with a thief.
“This also includes leaving the store to pursue a guest or gather additional information about the suspected or observed theft,” an excerpt states.
Employees are required, however, to “Call 911 immediately after the suspects have left the store,” as the two women claim to have done.
Source: New York Post
