Not my proudest moment in life.
I was a recently promoted senior team lead over electronics and toys. I was under a lot of stress, and pressure fro management who constantly rode me everyday to get things done, etc. It was my 7th day of working, I had come in at 7AM and it was nearing 10PM. We had no coverage for most the day, and a huge project to do since a VP was coming to our store soon, I was dead tired, and needed to rest, my body was worn out.
It was just me and my friend who was the closing associate in electronics.. I had finished up my notes,and decided it was time to clock out. I was exhausted, and it was 10PM. Went to the office and turned in my radio and my keys. I clocked and as i went to grab my coat from behind the electronics counter I noticed the locks to the cellphone case were left unlocked. We always had a big padlock to keep the phones, and ipads locked away so nobody could steal them. To get them unlocked we had to get a manager to unlock them. It was very frustrating but, whatever. I'm off the clock and the O/N manager is doing a meeting with the night crew. i get a zip tie and zip tip the locks to the cabinet doors. Good as new.
Wake up to my phone going off. My manager is telling me theres been a situation and I need to get into work ASAP. I know shit has hit the fan, and I know I'm in trouble. Just instant dread all over me. I'm going to get fired today. I get into work and theres the AP manager, the Store and my Assistant Manager by the cell phone case. the door has been broken open and we've been robbed. Everything is gone. I'm fucked. All I can think of is how stupid I am for not staying and making sure they were locked and how I'm fucked. I needed this job, I needed it and if I lost it ii was going to be on the street. I had no car, and could barely afford rent, and this place was within walking distance of my apartment.
AP manager says she wants to know who was responsible for not locking the case. I panic and blurt out "Oh, Paul did it. I told him, i told Paul don't forget to get a manager to lock the cases", I played stupid, and threw my friend under the bus.I knew it wouldn't fly, they would check on camera, and i'd be fucked. So, they did they pulled me into the AP office and pulled the video tape. They saw me putting zip-ties around the locks. AP manager turned to me "Wanna explain that?", I was sweating bullets now and just said "I noticed it was unlocked and until someone could lock it back up I did what I could". management bought it, The Ap manager said i did the right thing and took initiative, my assistant was giving me the evil eye, my Store manager bought it and then said she wants paul in her office as soon as he clocks in.
Paul clocks in about 12. He don't know what's going on, and why he has AP manager and his manager waiting at the time clock for him. he clocks and they pull him into the office, and want his explanation. he says I never said anything to him, and that he didn't know it wasn't locked. I recount my side, and explain how I explicitly told him to find a manager to lock it.. they took my side of the story, the cameras backed up my side, and I was a supervisor anyways so they believed me more.
Seeking to find someone to blame, AP fired him and blacklisted him from ever working for our company again. Paul stopped talking to me after that. I felt guilty, and still do but, I needed this job more then he did. .
You goddamn scumbag.
I may not be rolling in townhouses but I like where I am, I have been moving up, and I've never cheated to get there. Most I've done is vent about my coworkers off the clock. I don't feel particularly "great" toward any of the movers and shakers in the world who get there via the slime train.
