Lululemon Employees Fired, Are Lululemon Employees Fired for Calling Police?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 29, 2023
Lululemon Athletica
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is a multinational athletic apparel retailer with headquarters in British Columbia, Canada, and incorporation in Delaware, United States. Established in 1998, the company initially focused on selling yoga pants and other yoga wear but has since expanded its product range to include athletic wear, lifestyle apparel, accessories, and personal care items. Lululemon operates 574 stores globally and also has an online presence.
The company was founded by Chip Wilson in Vancouver, and its first standalone store opened in November 2000. Wilson chose the name "Lululemon" to have multiple L's, creating a Western sound that would appeal to Japanese buyers. The name was intended to be challenging for Japanese speakers to pronounce, which Wilson found amusing.
Christine Day, a former co-president of Starbucks, became the CEO in 2008. The company experienced significant growth and appeared on Fortune's Fastest-Growing Companies list for three consecutive years starting in 2013. In December 2013, Chip Wilson resigned as chairman, and Laurent Potdevin, the president of TOMS Shoes, took over as CEO.
In 2014, Lululemon expanded its presence by opening its first store in Europe, located in Covent Garden, London. However, the following year, Chip Wilson announced his resignation from the board. Michael Casey, the former lead director, assumed his position. In 2018, Laurent Potdevin stepped down as CEO and resigned from the company's board due to misconduct issues.
During its early years until 2015, Lululemon incorporated aspects of Landmark Forum, a personal and professional development program, into its leadership and training programs.
Lululemon Employees Fired
In a recent incident at a Lululemon store in Peachtree Corners, Atlanta, two employees were terminated for allegedly violating company policy when they attempted to stop a group of thieves from stealing expensive yoga gear. The incident, which was captured on shocking footage, involved masked robbers swiftly taking merchandise from displays near the front of the store before making their getaway in a waiting car.
The assistant manager, Jennifer Ferguson, and another employee named Rachel Rogers were working at the front of the store when the robbery took place. According to Jennifer's husband, Jason Ferguson, Jennifer was fired after contacting the police about the recurring thefts that the store had been experiencing.
The thieves had targeted the store multiple times before, prompting the women to take action. However, their intervention led to their dismissal as they were accused of breaking the employee handbook policy, which prohibits interfering with robberies. This incident is indicative of a larger trend of rising crime rates and widespread theft affecting businesses across the United States.
Major retailers have been forced to close down stores due to substantial financial losses resulting from rampant theft. The Lululemon store and others have experienced increasingly audacious and frequent theft incidents. In this particular case, the thieves consistently struck about an hour before closing time, seizing as much merchandise as possible from racks and tables located near the store's exit, before swiftly fleeing in a waiting getaway car.
To prioritize the safety of its employees, Lululemon has implemented a policy of non-intervention during robberies. The company's employee handbook explicitly states that no merchandise is worth jeopardizing personal safety, and it strictly forbids employees from chasing or physically engaging with thieves. Instead, the policy instructs employees to report robberies internally and to call 911 once the suspects have left the store.
Jennifer and Rachel claim that they were fired by Lululemon for violating the policy, but they were not provided with clear reasons for their termination other than the company's alleged "zero-tolerance policy." They have mentioned that Lululemon discourages employees from reporting robberies to the police or discussing such incidents. Employees are expected to clear the path for thieves, document the incident through a QR code, and refrain from involving law enforcement.
A spokesperson for Lululemon has emphasized that the safety and security of employees and customers are of paramount importance to the company. They have stated that appropriate policies and protocols are in place to maintain a safe environment. Lululemon takes theft and vandalism seriously and is working closely with local partners and law enforcement agencies to address the issue.
Following the incident, Jason Ferguson expressed his dissatisfaction with Lululemon's lack of action in ensuring employee safety. He revealed that his wife and Rachel were fired without any severance or financial consideration, despite being exemplary employees who aspired to advance within the company. Jason criticized the company for questioning their decision to involve the police, highlighting that the employees' actions were courageous and deserving of praise.
In response to the incident and the broader issue of theft, Jason stated that he would no longer support Lululemon financially unless significant changes were made to prioritize employee safety. This incident echoes similar cases where employees were terminated for attempting to stop thieves, including the case of an ex-Big Lots manager who followed a shoplifter out of the store to retrieve stolen items.
The rise in crime rates across the United States has resulted in significant financial losses for retailers. Shoplifting and organized retail crime have reached alarming levels, leading major retailers such as Target, Macy's, and Best Buy to threaten store closures if theft rates are not curbed.
Is Lululemon Employees Fired for Calling Police?
Yes, based on the information, it appears that the Lululemon employees, Jennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogers, were fired after calling the police. The incident occurred when masked robbers entered their Lululemon store in Georgia. A video of the incident went viral, showing Ferguson and Rogers confronting the robbers and then calling the police. Despite their efforts to prevent the theft and ensure the safety of the store, the employees claim that their decision to involve law enforcement ultimately led to their termination.
The employees assert that they had been instructed by management not to interfere with robberies and to simply clear a path for the thieves. Additionally, they were told not to document such incidents or discuss them with others. However, Ferguson and Rogers chose to deviate from these instructions by calling the police and reporting the robbery.
Following their actions, the employees were questioned by a regional manager and later fired. Although the specific reason for their terminations was not provided to them, management cited the company's "no-tolerance policy" as the grounds for their dismissal.
A spokesperson for Lululemon confirmed the existence of a zero-tolerance policy regarding employees chasing or physically engaging with suspected robbers, emphasizing the company's commitment to the safety and security of its employees and customers. Lululemon stated that they have established protocols in place to maintain a safe environment and that they take thefts and vandalism seriously.
They also expressed their focus on supporting their employees and collaborating with local partners and law enforcement. Ultimately, while the employees' decision to call the police may have been against the company's specific guidelines, it is their claim that their actions in responding to the robbery and ensuring the safety of the store led to their termination from Lululemon.
Why Was Lululemon Employees Fired?
The Lululemon employees, Jennifer Ferguson and Rachel Rogers, were fired for their actions following a robbery at their Lululemon store in Georgia. After masked robbers entered the store and began stealing items, Ferguson and Rogers confronted them and called the police. Despite their efforts to prevent the theft and ensure the safety of the store, their decision to involve law enforcement resulted in their termination.
According to the employees, they had been instructed by management to not interfere with robberies and to simply clear a path for the thieves. They were also told not to document or discuss such incidents. However, Ferguson and Rogers chose to deviate from these instructions by confronting the robbers and contacting the police.
Following the incident, the employees were questioned by a regional manager and subsequently fired. Although they were not provided with specific reasoning for their terminations, management cited the company's "no-tolerance policy" as the basis for their dismissal.
Lululemon confirmed the existence of a zero-tolerance policy regarding employees chasing or physically engaging with suspected robbers. The company emphasized its commitment to the safety and security of its employees and customers and stated that they have protocols in place to maintain a safe environment. They also mentioned their focus on supporting their employees and collaborating with local partners and law enforcement.
Ferguson and Rogers were fired because their actions in confronting the robbers and involving the police went against the company's guidelines and policies, specifically the non-interference policy during robberies. Despite their intentions to protect the store and its merchandise, their decision to call the police led to their termination from Lululemon.
Lululemon Employees Fired:FAQs
Lululemon was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson in Vancouver.
Lululemon is headquartered in British Columbia, Canada.
Lululemon is incorporated in Delaware, United States.
Lululemon initially focused on selling yoga pants and other yoga wear.