
Pat Guider, a manager with over 20 years of experience at a Big Lots store in New York, was fired for reporting an assault on an employee by a shoplifter to the police. The incident took place on May 10 when Guider witnessed a shoplifter attempt to punch his assistant manager while trying to leave the store.
Guider followed the assailant at a distance through the parking lot while providing updates to 911, prioritizing the safety of his team. However, two weeks later, he was called into his district manager’s office and informed of his termination. The decision left Guider frustrated, as he believed he had acted appropriately in response to a violent situation.
“I let people who shoplift leave the store every day. Every day. We just put it in the system like they ask us to do. This was an assault. This wasn’t shoplifting. This was an assault,” Guider expressed.
This is not the first instance of a Big Lots manager being dismissed over a shoplifting incident, with a similar case occurring in California. While the company has not commented specifically on Guider’s case, they do have a policy prohibiting employees from leaving the premises to pursue or detain customers. Guider, however, maintains that he did not endanger the store or any customers during the incident.
“I think I did the right, just thing,” Guider insisted.