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Lowes Employee Is Fired After She Tries to Stop 3 Shoplifters Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response
Uplifting News

Lowes Employee Is Fired After She Tries to Stop 3 Shoplifters Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response

Things don’t always work out the way we hope, and sometimes life can take an unfair turn. A Lowe’s employee in Georgia was reminded of that this past summer when her work fired her for trying to stop a trio of shoplifters.A Routine Day at WorkSixty-eight-year-old Donna Hansbrough had been a loyal Lowe’s employee for 13 years when she finally had enough of the shoplifting taking place around her. So, when three people tried to walk out with more than $2,000 worth of merchandise last July, Hansbrough decided to do something about it, reports Fox News.Rather than following company policy and letting the trio walk out with their loot, Hansbrough chased them and grabbed onto the cart.“The guy decided he wanted me to let go, so he punched me,” she recalled to the outlet. “I grabbed my glasses, still held onto the cart, and he punched me again and again.”Not only did the woman receive a black eye for her efforts, but later, her work handed her a pink slip.“It’s not my fault, but I feel bad at the same time … I don’t know … I’m emotionally mixed,” she added.A Community RespondsDuring the interview with Fox News, Hansbrough teared up and reiterated how much the job had meant to her.“I love my job … loved my job. I enjoyed working with the people I work with, I enjoyed helping the customers, I enjoyed everything about it,” she said with tears in her eyes. “You know you have your perfect job; that one was mine.”Her pure sentiments, coupled with the fact that she had tried to do the right thing, inspired others to speak out on her behalf. The hosts of the news show debated whether she should have been fired in this situation. Commenters hopped online to share their thoughts. And many people threatened to never shop at Lowe’s again.“The thing that absolutely slays me about this is listening to her talk about how much she loved her job and how much purpose it gave her,” Fox News host Charlie Hurt said. “It really does sort of come down to are you going to side with workers or criminals?”Getting Her Job BackVery shortly after the news story broke, Lowe’s upper management responded. They reviewed the case and, in a statement to the Effingham Herald, revealed that they had offered Hansbrough her job back.“After senior management became aware of the incident and spoke to Donna Hansbrough today, we are reinstating her job, and we are pleased that she has accepted the offer to return to Lowe’s,” spokesperson Larry Costello said.“First and foremost, there’s nothing more important than the safety of our customers and associates. Products can be replaced; people cannot. We continue to work closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for this theft and violent attack.”People Over ThingsThis story reminds us of the strength of community and how powerful we can be when we come together to make our voices heard. Hansbrough’s termination for trying to stop people from stealing seemed harsh, but after so many people spoke out, Lowe’s tried to fix the situation by bringing her back on.However, this story also reminds us that sometimes, there are battles not worth fighting. The reason Lowe’s has a policy to let shoplifters go is that it doesn’t want its employees getting hurt in the first place. Things can be replaced, but people cannot.It’s something to keep in the back of our heads the next time we value things over people. That could apply to all kinds of situations: working overtime for more money instead of spending time with a loved one, interfering in a situation that puts our physical health at risk, or remaining in a situation that’s bad for our mental health.At the end of the day, there is no dress rehearsal. This is our life, and sometimes, in order to make the most of it, it comes down to choosing the battles we are willing to fight.More from Goalcast:Walmart Shopper Films a Cashier’s Reaction to a Crying Customer – The Secret Video Inspires a Community to RespondPoor 12-Year-Old Is Caught Shoplifting Shoes at Store – Police Officer Has a Unique Response to the SituationBrave Employee Is Fired After He Stands Up to the Thieves Who Stole From His Store – Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response

Pregnant Woman With 2 Jobs Makes Only $300 Each Week - Then a Stranger Gives Her Some News That Makes Her Sob
Entrepreneurs

Pregnant Woman With 2 Jobs Makes Only $300 Each Week - Then a Stranger Gives Her Some News That Makes Her Sob

One amazing boss's generous gesture for a working mom is both inspiring and instructive. Tami Forbes is a store manager at Key West Key Lime Pie Company. Despite having many responsibilities, she was only making $300/week.With eight-year-old twins and a baby on the way, Forbes was bartending on weekends to make ends meet. Sadly, her situation is all too common. According to a Forbes article, the United States is dead last in paid maternity leave. Women who take 12 weeks are paid for less than eight weeks.A Show of SupportPhoto by PixabayOn CNBC TV show The Profit, host and self-made millionaire Marcus Lemonis invests his own money into businesses that are failing. One episode took him to none other than the Key West Lime Pie Company.When the cameras turned to Forbes, she shared the struggles and frustrations of being a working mom. "That first month of your child's life is so important to have not only with your child but with your spouse or co-parent," she said. "That idea that your family comes first should be more of a mindset in corporations and in small businesses and that's something that I feel has been lost."Moved by her story, Lemonis met Forbes to share some news. Pointing to her belly, he said, "This is more important than any pie you have to make." He then announced that he was giving her 6 months of pay along with a promotion. Forbes would return from leave running the location and earning $1,000/week, ending her bartending days. Lemonis then shared a hug with a teary -- and relieved -- Forbes. "I'm going to give you a cheque and it should help you just be able to rest and take care of your baby."- Marcus Lemonis Working Moms MatterAccording to CNBC, 9.8 million working moms in the United States are suffering from burnout. It's a cycle that starts when they leave the delivery room, where they have insufficient pay or time to spend with their family. In this day and age, that's tragic. While Lemonis's actions were admirable, hopefully in the future it will be universal. Ultimately, a worry-free mom makes for a happy household and motivated employee. Now that's a win-win.There's already proof that investing in people is a winning business model. Beyond that, supporting families and the women who nurture them is also a winning human model. We should all learn from Lemonis and support our working moms. After all, they're raising our future. More from Goalcast:Pregnant Woman Is Unable to Take Maternity Leave – Then, Her Manager Tells Her a Lie to Bring Her Into WorkPregnant Woman Delivers Baby in Chipotle Parking Lot – And the Restaurant’s Response Wasn’t What She Expected

Boss Is Hesitant When Deaf Employee Asks to Become the Chef - Little Did He Know How Customers Would View Him
Uplifting News

Boss Is Hesitant When Deaf Employee Asks to Become the Chef - Little Did He Know How Customers Would View Him

Deaf people entering the workforce face many hurdles including discriminatory hiring practices and workplaces that won’t accommodate them.A Waffle House restaurant in Hope Hull, Alabama shows us what’s possible when a workplace celebrates diversity and accommodation.How One Restaurant Embraced DiversityPookie White, who is partially deaf, landed a job at his local Waffle House restaurant in Hope Hull, Alabama as a dishwasher. Not long after he started, he told his manager he’d like to try cooking instead.Management worried it would be difficult for him and the staff because he wouldn’t be able to hear the orders.“I wondered how it was going to work,” Waffle House area manager Michael Clements told WSFA.But they gave him a shot and he’s doing an incredible job.To bridge the communication gap, White taught his co-workers some sign language and they were happy to learn.Waitress Jessie Simmons said that sign language was especially important while waitstaff wore masks due to COVID-19.A Beautiful Example of TeamworkClements credits White’s co-workers for helping him succeed. “They could have just not wanted to do that and consequently, he probably would have failed at cooking,” he said.White and Simmons have gotten their language down so well, they even joke around with each other. He jokes that she is slow sometimes with her hand signals. And when asked why she prefers working with White over other line cooks, Simmons jokes, “I’d rather work with him because he don’t talk back."The deaf chef is a hit with customers too. “He has regular customers who come just to see him,” Clements said. “They love the show.”White likes to give customers a hard time when they’re placing orders and he breaks into the chicken dance when someone orders chicken."Pookie is the sweetest soul. He loves to joke with the waitresses, they give each other a hard time and it’s so funny. He knows when we walk through the door exactly what we are getting too," Chelsea Milstead wrote on WSFA's Facebook page.White’s story is a great lesson for business owners and managers. Being more inclusive and accommodating and trusting your team can lead to beautiful things. More from Goalcast:Anxious Deaf Couple Tries a Popular Restaurant – Realizes the Chef Has Learnt Sign Language Just for ThemTwo Deaf Brothers Desperately Want to Learn How to Swim — So a Local Pool Does Something Incredible to Make Their Dreams Come True