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[Bsigg12]

For the people who have seen this in person, did it happen after hours? Or right in front of customers?

During operating hours. Offices are located in front of the checklanes so you're forced to walk in front of anyone checking out.

 

[jackissocool]

I fucking hate employers.

 

[entremet]

Horrific.

 

[CCS]

I hope she wins this. Like a couple of people who've commented above, I have Aspergers and suffer from depression. If this happened to me, especially if I had not stolen anything, I don't like to think what the effects could be.

 

[JBourne]

That's dehumanizing. Unless this leads to a policy change, I won't be setting foot in a Target. Fuck every single person responsible.

 

[Raistlin]

I fucking hate employers.

#NOTALLEMPLOYERS

 

[slit]

During operating hours. Offices are located in front of the checklanes so you're forced to walk in front of anyone checking out.

Did they actually parade the person or just walk them to the office?

Either way it's fucked up.

 

[Jeff-DSA]

Handcuffing someone at the front of the store and bringing them to the back counts as parading. It's weird that you're trying to say they shouldn't have done it while also trying to minimize what they did.

A direct walk is not a parade. I've been at work when a co-worker was handcuffed on the spot and taken away. It's not a parade. A parade would be walking them around the perimeter of the cubicles and making sure everybody got a good look at the the guy before being taken away.

If this kid was directly taken back to the office and then back out, it wasn't a parade. The handcuffs don't seem necessary, but it wouldn't be a parade either way. Now, if they wound through a couple of departments or along the cashier lines, then yes, that's a parade.

 

[Snkfanatic]

Wow that is pretty disgusting.

 

[Africanus]

I don't think I've ever shared it here, but it's certainly possible.

Hmm I swear I've read a story with those exact points of Pokèmon cards, alleged thievery, and firing. Oh well.

On topic: Are there any knowledgeable law enforcement/otherwise on gaf who can inform me on how legal/illegal the details of this story are?

 

[nomster]

This happened to me (minus the handcuffing/arrest).

I worked at Target in high school. I was an above average worker in that I actually did my job.

One day I got called into the security office with my supervisor where they told me they had footage of me stealing and demanded that I confess.

I was baffled. I've never stolen anything in my life. I asked if I could see the tape and they refused, drilling me to admit what I stole.

As a scared 16 year old kid, I tried thinking of anything I could have even accidentally taken home with me. The only thing I could think of was pens from the sales counter and MAYBE a loose Pokemon card or two. This was at the height of Pokemon's popularity and we frequently had people who would open decks and take the cards they needed. I thought maybe I had accidentally stuck some in my pocket and forgot about them.

And that was that. They fired me for something I didn't do.

Really gets me angry thinking back on it.

So you told them you took Pokemon "loosies" or you said nothing?

 

[Drencrom]

I've actually seen this happen twice while I was working with Target. They aren't secretive about it at all, they make a display of someone they suspect them of shoplifting.

Hopefully the woman wins.

Ive worked at Target and can personally vouch that this is indeed a common practice there. I worked at my local store for about a year and a half or so and probably witnessed at least 4-5 people who were handcuffed right in their department.

Why is this allowed? I would feel really uncomfortable as a customer seeing the staff publicly humiliate some employee like it's the medieval times.

 

[Iadien]

What in the world, that is disgusting. Why isn't this more well known?

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

So you told them you took Pokemon "loosies" or you said nothing?

I told them I might have stuck some in my pocket accidentally like in the process of cleaning up or something. I wasn't even a Pokemon fan (not that it matters as I never would have stolen them anyway).

It was the only thing I could think of and I was scared.

 

[Manu]

This is awful. I'm surprised that people would let this happen in 2015.

 

[Bsigg12]

Did they actually parade the person or just walk them to the office?

Either way it's fucked up.

No, someone from asset protection was waiting at the door and when the guy/girl walked in asked them to follow him to his office. Police were standing outside and they never cuffed them so maybe the one I worked at handled it differently overall. When they left the store it was escorted by an officer not cuffed.

And yea, the way they handled it is fucked up. I understand having reason to question an employee on theft because it's one of the largest causes of theft to any retail store, but they approached him as a criminal from beginning to end without ever pressing any charges but taking his job from him. I really hope the mother wins.

 

[OrangeGrayBlue]

Retail is highly susceptible to the Peter Principle, so a lot of times management is beyond inept.

That's interesting.


When you couple this with target's identity theft debacle a year ago and their propensity for nineteen-cent raises and things of that sort, it amazes me they're still in business. I don't know why Americans are so anti-union and pro-corporation. I get CAPITALISM and all that, but we already operate as a mixed economy.

 

[DrGonzo615]

How is this legal???

Not sure, but what they would do is wait for your shift to start, wait till you are back in your department working, then they would call the police. They would go back to the department, handcuff you on site and walk to to the front office where they would grill you about what you are being accused off, then you would be walked out of the office and outside to a patrol car.

The managers that I worked for made it very clear that it was making an example out of somebody and meant to be a deterrent to others.

Its total bullshit. The best advice I can give to anybody here that works in retail is to get out. I worked retail for about 6 years or so and its the absolute worst with no future.

 

[wildfire]

Now, I have a hard time believing that if the police were waiting for him at the store to handcuff him that they "paraded" him around the store. I'm sure they handcuffed him at the doors and walked him back to the office, but I doubt it was some giant shaming ritual. I'm sure that the walk back feels long and embarrassing, but I highly doubt it's anything but a direct walk back to the office that happens to pass co-workers and customers along the way.

Newsflash. The walk of shame isn't some flashy ritual. It's exactly as you just described it and it obviously sucks a lot if you just think it through. You don't want to be seen by your coworkers and clients like that.

 

[BossLackey]

Hope Target has to shell out a shit ton of money, fire those responsible, and abolish the "walk of shame" stuff. Ridiculous.

 

[Dalek]

Not sure, but what they would do is wait for your shift to start, wait till you are back in your department working, then they would call the police. They would go back to the department, handcuff you on site and walk to to the front office where they would grill you about what you are being accused off, then you would be walked out of the office and outside to a patrol car.

The managers that I worked for made it very clear that it was making an example out of somebody and meant to be a deterrent to others.

Its total bullshit. The best advice I can give to anybody here that works in retail is to get out. I worked retail for about 6 years or so and its the absolute worst with no future.

Jesus Christ

 

[FaintDeftone]

I used to be a manager at Target. Our store NEVER did this and it was not an official company policy that I was ever aware of. When we busted thieves, whether they were employees or customers, we did so very discreetly and tried not to make a scene. We were not suppose to even let other employees know what happened and we would get fired for spreading rumors throughout the store's team.

I don't know what this store is doing, but this was definitely not company practice when I worked there (2009-2014).

 

[Corran Horn]

I've seen customers handcuffed in the store but not employees while heading to the security room. And still for customers it was usually after they tried to steal something and exit the front door. For employees, only after once they leave security to go into a police vehicle were they handcuffed. And for my store the security office was right by the entrance. Worked there for ten years.

 

[Chairhome]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:

The suit alleges the actions by the two Target managers were part of a company practice that other employees had also experienced.

"The walk of shame is a Target policy to purposely cause shame, embarrassment and emotional distress to any Target employee who is suspected of stealing from Target,'' the suit states. "The policy consists of employees being arrested and paraded in handcuffs through the Target store in full view of co-workers and customers.''

Target told NBC4 on Friday it did not have a "walk of shame" policy but could not comment any further.

The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

I hope she wins the lawsuit so hard that they reopen stores in Canada just to make a change.

 

[Fried Food]

I'm surprised other Target employees haven't purposefully caused this to happen to them just so they can sue Target over how crazy that policy is.

 

[Derpyduck]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:


The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

I'm guessing maybe it's a "policy" at that particular Target run by those particular managers. There's no way that can be a corporate policy. And if it is, Target is about to lose a lot of money.

 

[Chumly]

I highly doubt this is an authorized corporate policy, rather more likely one created by some dickhead manager/regional manager that thinks he's a big shot but is really too afraid to confront employees unless they are handcuffed.

Exactly. There would never been and official policy of this. It's very likely that individual or regional management could have an unofficial policy of doing this but it would never be in writing.

 

[Vanillalite]

They expect employees to take it cause they need the job, and they assume they won't have the resourced to fight back something like this. Figure at worst they quit and they refill the position.

Glad to see someone taking them to court, and I hope this sets a precedent so it won't ever happen again.

 

[slit]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:


The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

Yes, I think everyone knows that but it's not like it's out of the realm of possibility. Even if there isn't that does not excuse this. You don't arrest someone in front their peers without evidence and they obviously had none since he wasn't charged. It had to be based on heresay.

 

[ronito]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:


The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

Policy or not target allowed it to happen and it's amazing that they did. Its horrific and I hope they pay through the nose. If they don't have a policy about not doing shit like this they will soon

 

[Jest Chillin]

I'm guessing maybe it's a "policy" at that particular Target run by those particular managers. There's no way that can be a corporate policy. And if it is, Target is about to lose a lot of money.

Lots of businesses have unofficial policies that are expected to be followed. Most likely corporate knows and has always known about this and just ignores it's existence.

 

[Somnid]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:

The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

This does not surprise me as it would be a lawsuit magnet. Perhaps it was a common occurrence and that particular store though.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Hope Target has to shell out a shit ton of money, fire those responsible, and abolish the "walk of shame" stuff. Ridiculous.

Not just that, I'm having a hard time understanding how the police agreed to cooperate with this.

Not sure, but what they would do is wait for your shift to start, wait till you are back in your department working, then they would call the police. They would go back to the department, handcuff you on site and walk to to the front office where they would grill you about what you are being accused off, then you would be walked out of the office and outside to a patrol car.

The managers that I worked for made it very clear that it was making an example out of somebody and meant to be a deterrent to others.

Its total bullshit. The best advice I can give to anybody here that works in retail is to get out. I worked retail for about 6 years or so and its the absolute worst with no future.

I'm speechless

 

[Corgi]

im surprised this is the first time something like this has happened, or has there been other suits filed against companies doing 'walk of shames'?

from this thread, it doesn't seem like that rare of a thing.

 

[DD]

It seems that Canada didn't miss a thing.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

WTF? Big retail companies like this throw in every policy they can to cover their arses from lawsuits, how in the holy mother of fuck did this even become a thing? Why would the store manager not question him first? Why would police handcuff a guy who poses no threat and hasn't been found doing anything wrong?

I think they will have to prove this "policy" exists in court. Obviously it doesn't exist on paper, but if they can prove that at least this store has a habit of doing this to employees who are suspected of theft, then they have something.

To me it seems like they are using words like "paraded" and "walk of shame" to make it sound bigger than it really was. The reality was simply that he walked in the doors, was placed in hand cuffs and brought to the back to be questioned. After the questioning they exited the store, with him still in handcuffs as he was being brought to the Police Station. Saying he was "paraded" makes it seem like they walked him around the store for display, which I can't imagine is the truth.

If it was entrance to back groom, back room to exit, that doesn't seem overly insane. The part that strikes me as odd is placing him in handcuffs at the start. That does make it seem like it was done as an act of humiliation (or what I imagine more of a warning for other employees). If they had only done on the second walk across the store as they were leaving, it would seem more normal to me.

I guess the simple question is, is it normal for Police to initially put someone in cuffs on site for initial questioning, before being arrested or anything?

 

[Karsticles]

You guys are reading it incorrectly:


The suit is alleging that there is a policy. There probably is not.

Well no shit Target isn't going to call it that.

People here who work at target say otherwise.

 

[EnlightenedMint]

Wow, this is horrible.

Hopefully a bunch of other people who had to go through this sue as well.

 

[HeySeuss]

This seems to be more of an issue with the police.

Why was he handcuffed without being told of his crime?

How is this legal???

How is it legal for them to arrest him without any evidence of wrong doing?

yes. that along with the intentional humiliation. I don't understand why police would cooperate with something like this without at least a minimal amount of evidence.
Even then, you question him in private. Why disgrace this person as if he was some rapist or something?
This is a ridiculously non proportional use of force.

Personally I wouldn't be satisfied until the highest level manager of the Target chain that suggested or supported this policy lose their job.

I'll weigh in on the handcuffing part. Yes it is absolutely legal to handcuff someone accused of theft. Theft is one of very few misdemeanor crimes that an officer doesn't need to see take place, that an arrest can be made just by the accusation of the victim. Public indecency is another.

So basically, Target calls the police and says they have an employee we'd like arrested because of theft, the officer shows up and arrests them, walks them back to the security office to get more info, and then walks them out to the cruiser. That's pretty standard with any shoplifting case. There is virtually no chance the officer was in on the shame parade but rather that Target knows standard police practice and uses it to their advantage.

That said I think that Target's policy is disgusting and I hope the mom gets paid because humiliating someone like that with no regard for their mental heath or the consequences is just. Wow I can't even.

 

[breakfuss]

Wow. Just...wow.

 

[Masquerader]

... I... What. 2015 and supposed criminals are being paraded? Guilty before proven innocent though, amirite. Poor guy. RIP, and I hope this lawsuit is successful, and better still, opens up the floodgates.

 

[esms]

Seems more like a prisoner-corrections officer relationship than a manager-employee relationship. Really sad that this guy had to die over this.

 

[Crosseyes]

Well no shit Target isn't going to call it that.

People here who work at target say otherwise.

From the accounts of others who've worked at Target who've seen a similar thing I wouldn't doubt there was some kind of "Shoplifter deterrent" type policy that the managers are following when it comes to deal with employees suspected of theft.

Pay the mom.

 

[Dennis]

So publically humiliated but no charges against the guy?

No wonder retail managers are worried about people going postal. If that is how you treat people maybe you should be scared.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

As someone with aspergers who has struggled with severe depression, yep that'd do it. Dispicable policy and a disgusting way to treat an employee.

Another Aspie chiming in here.

Yup.

As ludicrous as it sounds, this could 100% lead someone that does not process stimultion or feelings normally to suicide.

The lawyer was in the right to use it in the case.

 

[wildfire]

No wonder retail managers are worried about people going postal. If that is how you treat people maybe you should be receiving the postal treatment for baseless accusations.

Fixed that for you.

Let's make this into law.

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

I'll weigh in on the handcuffing part. Yes it is absolutely legal to handcuff someone accused of theft. Theft is one of very few misdemeanor crimes that an officer doesn't need to see take place, that an arrest can be made just by the accusation of the victim. Public indecency is another.

So basically, Target calls the police and says they have an employee we'd like arrested because of theft, the officer shows up and arrests them, walks them back to the security office to get more info, and then walks them out to the cruiser. That's pretty standard with any shoplifting case. There is virtually no chance the officer was in on the shame parade but rather that Target knows standard police practice and uses it to their advantage.

That said I think that Target's policy is disgusting and I hope the mom gets paid because humiliating someone like that with no regard for their mental heath or the consequences is just. Wow I can't even.

If that initial handcuffing is normal, then yeah, I don't see how there's much of a case here. The lawyer has done his job well in picking provocative wording that is clearly working on people. If they walked from the entrance to the back, from the back to the entrance and that's it, it sounds pretty standard. When the lawyer says parade though, you imagine this guy in chains being walked in circles around the whole store for all to see. But, that's not what happened. It was point A to B, then B to A.

 

[SwiftDeath]

If what the suit is stating is accurate then the police were the ones who handcuffed him? Because then you should have a third party that participated in this that I would think would make good witnesses although why on earth police officers would be party to this without any actual charges present seems dubious at best

 

[CDX]

Ive worked at Target and can personally vouch that this is indeed a common practice there. I worked at my local store for about a year and a half or so and probably witnessed at least 4-5 people who were handcuffed right in their department.

Not sure, but what they would do is wait for your shift to start, wait till you are back in your department working, then they would call the police. They would go back to the department, handcuff you on site and walk to to the front office where they would grill you about what you are being accused off, then you would be walked out of the office and outside to a patrol car.

The managers that I worked for made it very clear that it was making an example out of somebody and meant to be a deterrent to others.

Its total bullshit. The best advice I can give to anybody here that works in retail is to get out. I worked retail for about 6 years or so and its the absolute worst with no future.

What!? This is a Target thing? You didn't happen to work for the Pasadena Target store mentioned in the OP's news story did you?

I assumed this would be just a crazy manager, or district manager or something.