Waitrose customers vow boycott as shoppers say ‘I’m done’ after staff sacking | UK | News
Walker T SmithWaitrose employee fired from job of 17 years after stopping Easter egg stealing (Image: Facebook)
Waitrose customers have vowed to never use the supermarket again after a loyal employee was sacked after trying to stop a shoplifter.
The firm’s decision to fire Walker Smith, 54, was criticized on social media, including from regulars at the supermarket. Walker’s 17-year tenure at Waitrose came to an abrupt end despite his valiant efforts to arrest a thief trying to smuggle high-end Easter eggs.
The outrage intensified to the point where customers vowed to take their custom elsewhere.
One wrote online: “After firing your long-time employee for trying to stop a shoplifter, I’m afraid I can no longer shop at your store… Disgusting decision.” Another said: “@Waitrose You have been completely unfair and as a result I will no longer shop in your stores. This is outrageous.”
Waitrose, which has more than 300 branches in England, said in a statement that thieves pose a “serious danger to life”. He emphasized that it is not company policy for its employees to fight against thieves.
But this statement did little to appease customers.
Waitrose Clapham Junction Waitrose worker sacked after 17-year job after stopping thieves stealing Easter eggs (Image: undefined)
Another wrote online: “Won’t shop at Waitrose anymore.” Another punter posted on
The thief, who Mr Smith claimed to know as a habitual criminal, fled the store in Clapham Junction, south-west London; The store clerk picked up a piece of broken chocolate and threw it at some carts “in frustration.” Although he insisted he had not aimed at the thief, he was reprimanded by his manager and had to apologize.
His supervisor then chose to escalate the issue, leading Mr Smith to plead with store management to retain his position, stating that Waitrose was like “family”. But his recent dismissal sparked widespread anger among customers.
The supermarket stressed that staff had previously been injured while fighting off thieves and would never want to put its staff in a dangerous situation. A Waitrose spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our partners and customers couldn’t be more important to us and we have policies in place to protect both. We have had incidents where partners have been hospitalized whilst tackling shoplifters. Fortunately, they have always recovered, but this may not always be the case.”
“There is a serious threat to life in the fight against thieves. We refuse to risk anyone’s life and that’s why we have policies that are very clearly understood and must be strictly adhered to.”
“As a responsible employer, we would never want to be in a position to notify families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop the theft. “Nothing we sell is worth risking lives.
“This reporting does not cover all the facts of the situation. While we can never discuss an individual case, we can assure you that the correct process was followed, which included a standard appeal procedure.
“We have been campaigning for some time for more to be done to protect store workers from criminals, including making retail crime a specific standalone offence.”
