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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHome Depot rehires black worker who defended himself against customer's racist tirade
https://thinkprogress.org/home-depot-rehires-black-worker-who-defended-himself-against-customers-racist-tirade-fed2040dcff8/Home Depot rehires black worker who defended himself against customers racist tirade
The customer isn't always right.
Patrick Smith
Jul 21, 2018, 2:45 pm
Home Depot has reversed course and rehired Maurice Rucker. The Albany Times-Union reports that three days after firing him for verbally defending himself against racist taunts from a customer, they have offered him back his job amid a firestorm of public outrage.
The retailer had initially terminated Rucker, a black employee at its Albany, New York location, over his encounter with the racist customer. After Rucker asked the customer to put the dog he brought into the store on a leash, the customer went on a tirade.
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An avalanche of criticism followed, with numerous media outlets across the country picking up the story. The public clearly sided with Rucker, and made their displeasure about his firing known. In addition, a crowdfunding campaign on his behalf has so far raised more than $2,000.
Seeing this, Home Depot quickly had a change of heart and realized that the firing was definitely the wrong move. A spokesman for the company said, Weve taken another look at this and we are offering Maurice his job back.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)Public censorship is a powerful thing. MLK Jr, Ghandi, and Mandela used it quite effectively and deliberately. You must speak out if you want to overcome public apathy regarding overt racism, biased and wrong action against groups or other humans.
To keep silent is to be accountable in promoting such behavior.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)into doing what they should have done (or not done) in the first place. If what this employee did was in violation of a company policy they should have simply reminded him of that policy and told him that if the same thing ever occurred again he should go to a manager and not argue with the customer. But no, they went and fired him and are now getting a well-deserved ration of shit for it. We can only hope that other employers will consider this example carefully.
nuxvomica
(12,365 posts)I just saw Rucker interviewed on the local cable news and he said he doesn't want to work there anymore.
http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2018/07/22/home-depot-doubles-back-after-firing-employee
WhiteTara
(29,676 posts)walk back in the doors of any HD if I were him and I'd bad mouth them beyond the grave.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)business. Lowe's has a chance to recoup some of their lost business if they get their Shite together. Doubt full.
Folks,this happens more than you think,and the spineless stupid Store Managers have zero ideas or ability to deal with,or handle these issues.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)I guess he saw that they didn't really value him although he seems to have been a good employee for many years. So fuck them; I'm sure he can get a job with an employer who does value his work.
lpbk2713
(42,696 posts)And they know they will lose their ass when Mr Rucker hits them where it hurts
in the wallet when he takes HD to court. If they weren't such a chicken shit outfit
he might not have decided to do this. Screw you HD.