[solidzane]

Hi, a little background first... I work at Walmart as a cashier overnights. Overnight cashiers get moved around all the time. In general they have me collect shopping carts, do some cashiering, and check receipts at the door...

Last Monday, January 16, 2012, I was working at the door. I had suspicions about a "customer" and so I focused my attention on making sure to ask for a receipt. (This was a known thief to the store, but it was never something we could actually prove and accuse him of.)

I hadn't noticed that he entered with a girl friend as well... So, they both approach the exit from a non sale area. They are in the process of passing the last Point of Sale when I request a receipt and (as I was trained to do) place my hand on the shopping cart which had a desktop computer set inside. The girl asked me to remove my hand, I said "Sure, I just need to see your receipt really quick." Without warning the guy punched me in the neck/lower jaw. Then they both went running as I was stunned...

A second or 2 later I follow and get our outside security's attention. I memorize the plate number of the car they get into and then get management's attention. They come running, though it was already too late. They give me an Ice pack and go back to work... My supervisor told me that the store would be calling the police...

This whole event happened at 6:00 AM. I was scheduled off at 7 but filed a Wal-mart incident report and clocked out at about 7:30. Only then did I find out that the store had yet to call the police. So I spend another hour (off the clock) looking for the next shift's security person to get the license plate number again. Then I call and make my own report...

So it took 2 and a half hours to get any sort of police involvement... I know what steps I can take against the thief/attacker. A misdemeanor is all he committed when he struck me according to a deputy... But my question is about Walmart... Did store management screw up enough to get some sort of compensation or legal ramifications for their lack of action?

Some more details; The people greeters do not have any walkie talkies to alert management before a theft, we have to literally yell out a manager/supervisor's name.
When the attack happened I had already had to turn around... (The thief had walked around me, as had the girl with the cart. They were between me and the door, I was not in the way anymore.
This is in California...
This is not about the thief, but Wal-Mart...
I am okay. I barely even bruised. It was more of a scare and adrenaline pumping shock...

[ScottGem]

Wal-Mart owes you compensation for any medical costs you may have incurred, but it appears there was none. They also owe you for any extra time you spent in dealing with this. But you would have had to be clocked in. Any time you spent after clocking out you volunteered.

You and Wal-Mart can and should have the thief charged with assault. What's not clear is whether they got away with the computer. I don't see any reason for the store to have rushed a report. Nor for you to wait around and pursue it. You had the license plate, so the police could follow up when ready.

[solidzane]

That is exactly what I wanted to know... I guess I forgot to mention that, yes they got the computer... But why shouldn't they rush though call? I only got assaulted! Either way, you answered what I needed. Turns out the plates were from a different car, probably stolen as well... Haven't caught the guy either...

[ScottGem]

Wal-Mart security probably figured that if the car was theirs, then they had an ID and there was no rush. If the car wasn't theirs, then they would probably ditch the car quickly so again, no hurry.

Was there an appointment made for you to look at mug books? Were there surveillance tapes that showed the incident? Have they been turned over to the police?

[Fr_Chuck]

You can of course get paid for the time you were "working" after you clocked out, it should be easy to merely report the time to HR and be paid for it.

If you were injured and had medical bills or believe it is a injury that needs to be reported, you would best report it as a workers comp injury. It is your duty to report the injury if you feel it was serious enough. Minor injuries happen every day and are not reported.

[solidzane]

It was actually not up to store security. The security guy does what management tells him to do... management decided not to call.

Yes there were cameras that caught the entire incident... police got a copy... the deputy that got my case showed me a total of 13 mug shots... 7 of possible matches for the guy, 6 female shots... no use...

I guess that I'm mostly mad because management is ridiculous... whenever we have a theft and get vehicle description and plates we call th epolice right away. But somehow an assault and a theft with decription and plates calls for waiting 2 and a half hours... Anyway... thanks for the help guys. You can close this thead. :)

[ballengerb1]

If you were assaulted then you could have called on your own and filed a complaint. The store can only press charges for theft and only you can press for assault.

[Fr_Chuck]

I worked at one place, we had two people come in, one with a baseball bat, another with a chain and they started destroying things, Our company owner did not want the police called or charges pressed because he did not want negative press in the news paper.

Companies do strange things.