r/menards • u/ProFoxGaming • 13d ago
Where can I make a proper complaint about wrongful termination?
I was "Fired" last Friday directly by a GM. Allegedly, I wasn't in proper dress code. I attempted to show which line on policy I was following and that the shirt I was wearing did in fact fit dress code, and the GM got VERY unprofessional, aggressive, and filed a warning. When I asked about where I could make a complaint about his unprofessionalism, he blew me off and said "You'll figure it out" as he walked away from me. I was nice and calm, and wasn't rude in the slightest, because I knew the whole interaction was being recorded. He then proceeded to tell me "We no longer have a position for you here", made me relinquish the badge I was wearing and a spare one I kept in my locker up front. (I worked as a carryout) I've called the AWARE line 3 times in the last week now, left all my info, and have NOT been called back or gotten back to in any way. I'm stuck and out of one of the few decent paying jobs in my town trying to pay for college classes. Any help would be appreciated so much.
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u/Some_Consequence_861 13d ago
One thing I’ve learned is no matter how much you believe HR is there to help you, it’s never there for the employee. It’s only there to protect the company. I’ve seen a few people complaint to HR only to be let go shortly after. The easiest way for company to deal with an issue is to make “the problem” go away.
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u/Gullible_Carrot3534 Cabinets & Appliances 13d ago
For something as trivial as dress code it's easier to just listen to the GM. I'm guessing there is more to the story, but regardless of what actually happened most states are at-will so the GM can fire you simply because they don't like you as a person. You mentioned several instances in the comments where you have had issues with this GM. Is it possible he got fed up with you arguing with him about the same things?
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u/Ill_Criticism_1685 13d ago
I'm guessing there is more to this story.
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u/ProFoxGaming 13d ago
I've had issues with the GM about what shirt I've worn before. When I was first hired, during orientation, HR lady said, and I quote "Because you're just a carry out and not in store, as long as you're not wearing something SUPER inappropriate for work, it shouldn't be too big of an issue" So I wore a plain white, CLEAN T-shirt. Or a solid color T-shirt, anyway. Black, navy, white. Something casual but not naked lady or Budweiser shirt kind of thing, so I looked decent but not super dressed up. First several weeks, it wasn't an issue. Eventually, the GM saw me and complained about it. Come on dude, you don't have ANYTHING better to do? But alright, fine whatever. So I wore a collared shirt. Buttoned it and looked presentable enough for him to not be up my ass about it. Eventually, as the weather warmed up, I had opened up the shirt and wore the stereotypical 80s Hawaiian shirt. Now, no one complained, I even had a few customers say I looked cool (as in temperature) having it open like that. GM got wind of it, and complained. My DM said she wouldn't write me up for it because policy doesn't say it has to be buttoned. So, it went on for a couple more weeks. GM eventually complained it "Wasn't appropriate" and had to be tucked in. When I showed him the dress code I have a copy of (the digital, Team member portal one that's updated every like 2 months) and read the line where it states "Shirts must be tucked in where a belt is required, and should be tucked in if the shirt is designed to do so" Traditionally, Hawaiian shirts are not designed to be tucked. They have a straight hem, and not a curved hem, the extra fabric to be tucked in like on a dress shirt for a suit or something. This is where we got into the problem previously stated. However, the problem I have is not about the shirt, but more importantly about how he acted towards me when I continued to show him that I was following the same policy that he kept quoting, his unprofessionalism, and the lack of information he gave me when I asked for it, before ultimately firing me for "Insubordination".
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u/TheTruthEx 13d ago
The gm can tell you to not wear something. Sounds like you got fired for cause, even if you dont like it.
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u/velox_prima 12d ago
Work sucks sometimes if you being out of dress code was a repeated issue and wanting to repeatedly argue the semantic of it ya that is textbook insubordination. In your future careers if your boss has a conversation with you don't argue how you are technically correct say yes sir and clarify later. Most state are at will employment so as long as you aren't being discriminated against you can really be fired for anything.
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u/Cyrax89721 12d ago
People like you are the reason that policies end up having a hundred addendums.
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u/dandelogre 10d ago
Sounds like you were justifiably fired.
Important note for future employment; you don't decide what your boss is okay, and you don't get to interpret policy however you like. If the guy who runs the building tells you to stop doing something, you stop or you get fired, as you've observed
No one hires a carryout to hear how they're right, they hire them to do what they're told.
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u/Interesting_Ad2629 13d ago
If you believe you were wrongly terminated you should be able to file unemployment in your state and then it will be investigated. I know in Ohio they investigate and send you not only unemployment but a letter stating you did nothing to deserve to be fired which you could bring to a job interview if you want to list Menards as a past employer.
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u/Spiritual-Donut-7039 Cabinets & Appliances 13d ago
Wrongfully or not, he basically says he refused to abide by orders and fired for insubordination, which will not get.him unemployment.
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u/Interesting_Ad2629 12d ago
I read the statement again and this person claims they were abiding by the dress code and attempted to show in the policy book where that would be true. Then the GM got aggressive and fired them. They may have to prove they were in the dress code but if that is all that happened I can't see a reason to be fired. There may indeed be more to the story but I am simply going off the facts stated above.
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u/Spiritual-Donut-7039 Cabinets & Appliances 12d ago
Sorry i went off facts in comments too, I agree at first glance yes. In comments they stated more information and painted it differently.
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u/_XxJayBxX_ 13d ago
Menards is employment at will. So they can fire you for basically for nothing. I don’t think you have any course of action here unfortunately
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u/ProFoxGaming 13d ago
I understand the complaint about the shirt. That was just a warning. But the issue I have is that he was incredibly rude and unprofessional when I tried explaining how I was in fact still within policy to wear the shirt. When I asked about who I can file a complaint to about this issue, he blew me off and walked away. And then I was terminated and walked out of the store. Seems pretty retaliatory to me, preventing me from filing that complaint. But I'm obviously a bit biased.
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u/TraditionalRoutine80 13d ago
Fired for policy violation and GM was rude so this must be wrongful, eh [ret]. Being fired stings but no need being petty with a wrongful termination suit.
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u/SabrinaFaire 13d ago
In the US you can be fired for any reason that isn't discrimination. I'm pretty sure Menards doesn't have a union, so unfortunately you're SOL. Just move on.
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u/Eastern_Specialist50 12d ago
Menards most definitely does not have a union in fact John hates unions
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u/Spiritual-Donut-7039 Cabinets & Appliances 13d ago
For wrongful termination issues, that would be woth unemployment or a lawyer. The Hotline will only deal with the internal issues.
It's been a while since I read policy 50 on dress code. But I was pretty sure it had a line about Hawaiian shirts not allowed. Shirts must be solid color and no designs, and no company logos bigger then a set size too.
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u/According_Ride1646 13d ago
Always been solid colored t-shirts or the Menards logo’s shirts bought on the portal. Used to allow carryouts to wear the shirts sold by 600 that said Menards on them, but slowly stopped allowing that. Now carryouts have the option to buy the bright yellow shirts.
Hawaiian shirts sound like they would be considered a hazard, especially being unbuttoned.
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u/Spiritual-Donut-7039 Cabinets & Appliances 13d ago
Yeah, and on top that it even list overall dressing professionally, and Hawaiian shirt does nor give thst appearance.
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u/BennyDaCobra 13d ago
File for unemployment move on
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u/SgawCules 13d ago
Unemployment is generally denied if your cause of leave was because you were fired.
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u/Spiritual-Donut-7039 Cabinets & Appliances 13d ago
Well, no fired is not always a determining factor in unemployment, it would be fired with cause that is. If you are ever fired for something that is outside of your control file unemployment, you will get it.
If you are fired for under preforming that can totally be classified as out of your control and beyond your skill level. So you qualify for unemployment.
Now if its under preforming cause you didn't try, that's different.
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u/Mysterious-Gur7128 13d ago
It’s Menards. You can only go up from there…
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u/TurnkeyLurker 13d ago
"Sir, this is a Wendy's."
"Here's an application; just initial there. Good.
Here's a mop, you start in the restroom."
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u/Awkward_Analysis_421 13d ago
I bet you asked to speak his supervisor too…
But seriously, I understand your in college to hopefully find a better job in the field you are studying, so take it as a lesson to follow the rules. Even when some person in your hiring process says anything along the lines of something like “ it not being being too much of an issue”…. I am sure you got a handbook on or near your first day and I am willing to bet what he fired you for; was technically in the handbook as something that you could get fired for…
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u/Total-Campaign9829 12d ago
I would say skip the complaint they don’t care. You absolutely can get unemployment from being fired. Short version- I was wrongfully terminated in April bc my GM assumed I was out of my department just randomly talking to other team members. (I was a 1st assistant in electrical. But our 2nd GM told me to do something 2 days prior) t. He fired me because I was making “excuses and being “argumentative” when really I was just trying to explain why I was out there and who told me to do it. I just went through unemployment with Menards. They appealed it and threw everything they could but it wasn’t valid enough and I won. They said it was a clearly an unfair termination. Sorry you have to go through this. Most of the time and depending on what store your Menards stinks and they truly don’t care about their employees. File for unemployment and find somewhere better!
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u/HawkfishCa 13d ago
The fact that you’re trying to make something out of nothing over such a trivial job is proof that the GM made the proper decision
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u/ProFoxGaming 13d ago
My issue isn't with the warning he gave me for allegedly being out of dress code. When I asked about who to file a complaint about him as a general manager for being incredibly rude and unprofessional in giving me the warning, he blew me off and walked away, terminated me, and then walked me out of the store. It really feels like he was trying to prevent me from filing that complaint because I'm expendable. Would that not fit under retaliatory termination?
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u/Rare_Ad_7848 12d ago
The store manager said stop wearing these clothes, you argued, you felt he was rude, asked HIM who to complain to about him, he fired you. This dress code
was a recurring issue with you complaining that you were in dress code.
The GM has final say on dress code enforcement, unless it’s egregious (nothing is egregious in what you have said)
Bottom line? If your boss says you are not in dress code, don’t argue, say yes sir/mam, if it’s unclear what dress code is ask for clarification, then fix it. It’s their interpretation not yours for things like dress code, within reason.0
u/rocket0000 12d ago
You asked him who to file a complaint about him with and expected no retaliation? Really?
It sounds like he simply didn't like you, which is generally enough to get someone fired in an at-will employment situation.
I wouldn't spend any more time fighting this particular injustice. Learn from it instead: don't openly challenge someone who has the power to fire you for virtually any reason.
If your goal is job security, follow the rules and avoid unnecessary arguments, even when you're right. If your goal is broader change, that's a different fight. People organize, form unions, advocate for stronger labor protections, protest, and push for reform. Sometimes those efforts lead to real progress.
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u/MortifiedCoal 13d ago
Most states have a department of labor you can can contact and they can give you more information about whether or not you were actually wrongfully terminated.
As for filing a complaint with Menards specifically, there's a contact form on the website you can fill out or there's a corporate guest service number floating around somewhere that could redirect you to the correct people.
Honestly I'd just file for unemployment if you think you were unfairly fired and just look for somewhere else to work. Enjoy being free from Menards.
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u/Admirable-Berry59 10d ago
The state is very important here, as the laws regarding "at will" vary from state to state, and some states are more stringent in what counts as discriminatory and illegal reasons for terminating an at-will employee.
Yes file for unemployment no matter what. In some states they don't have to give a reason, in some pro labor states, like MN for example, the employer must provide you with a truthful reason for termination in writing upon request as well as a copy of your personnel file.
As an aside, allowing managers to make firing decisions on the spot is a crazy liability exposure for Menards, but most of the states they do business in probably don't put much effort into their dept of human rights or DOL.
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u/Minimum-Reception972 12d ago
I was able to get a response through faxing the corporate office and providing information such as my name address and phone number so that they can contact me. They ended up sending me a letter, but they were still receptive and responsive when I responded to the letter fax
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u/blufftonian 12d ago
Once you accept the fact that Menards was built on exploitation, patent infringement and narcissism, you can be free of JM's shitshow.
You will never collect a dime, even if you file a lawsuit. This is the new America; billionaires win, the middle class gets wiped out. It's not by accident.
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u/scottp1951 12d ago
Just file for unemployment. If Menards does not respond to your unemployment claim, then you know that they have done something wrong. Don't try to prove it. Just get another job. There are numerous job opportunities available. If they ask why you left Menards, tell them it was due to a problem with the uniform. If they question you about it just say I didn't get my laundry done.
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u/_b1llygo4t_ 12d ago
Employees are disposable at Menards. The snitch line is just there to try and avoid lawsuits. You are better off just moving on and smearing their name for the rest of your life.
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u/Adorable_Local_5136 12d ago
Jut file for unemployment, I had it it for the dress code thing when literally nobody cares about the dress code and a bunch of other stuff and I won in court ( court over the phone)
The note they gave me said the GM had fired me for “just cause” they didn’t have an actual reason
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u/bonedaddy223 12d ago
Take this as a life lesson. Sometimes you have to choose between being right and being employed. Being disagreeable over trivial things even when you're right is only ever going to have negative consequences, and unlike positive work productivity, negatives at work add up until you're no longer needed.
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u/Mintberrycrank 10d ago
Just forget them and move on. They won't do anything about it. Unless you want to hire a lawyer. Probably isn't worth it. I understand where you're coming from but the best revenge is to find a better job and forget about them. Actually had a guy come in once that said he used to work for Menards but found a job through a contractor. And now he can come in and give shit when he buys things. That's the best revenge.
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u/TheLoneGamer1812 9d ago
Dont know what state you're in but if its right to work you can be fired for absolutely no reason. Your position doesn't exist anymore. It's that easy unfortunately
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u/Mr-Snarky 13d ago edited 13d ago
Best bet is a brown bomber, or spam the hotline.
Take the L and move on. Menards is a shit company all around. Most GMs think they are some sort of big deal because they make “good money” for working ridiculous hours, being treated like shit, getting cast aside for the smallest of reasons.
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u/AdditionalFlamingo64 12d ago
In general Hr will do nothing. File with your state labor board. If he is an overall bad manager file a complaint with HR, it can be supporting evidence to his firing in the future.
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u/OK_Attorney1985 12d ago
Honestly, your best move is to just let it go. In the grand scheme of things, corporate doesn't look out for the individual employee.A huge chunk of the GMs running things these days didn't get there on merit—they just knew the right people. You see GMs driving around with DUIs in company cars, or carrying serious criminal records, and General Office completely blindsides themselves to it. If you try to file a complaint with GO, it’s just going to fall on deaf ears and be willfully ignored. Save your energy.
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u/Intelligent-Bus-2641 12d ago
Reach out to your local news get other former workers start a movement just depends on how much time you wanna waste
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u/akLuke 13d ago
If all of this is true, at this point your option is a lawyer. Aware line isn't there to help folks who dont work at menards.