Is my job at risk?

(PLEASE read all)

Ok, before i clocked into work i usually walk around the store a bit (it's at walmart). When i walked by this lady was struggling to get an entertainment center by herself in her buggey. As i walked by she said "do you work here?". I said "yes, but i can't help you get that into your buggey because i'm off the clock. If you can find a worker in this department they can find a stocksman to help you."

She said "no, no, i'll find somebody.....WHATS UR NAME?" I told her my name (bad mistake) and went along my way. When i was on the clock (as a cashier) she went through the line next to me and said "well, i finally found got that into my buggey...........i hurt my foot though" (in a rude way of speaking)

I continued saying "well, i'm sorry, but i can't risk being fired just to help you lift something" and i went back to my register. Then she screamed "well, i expect some common courtesy!!"

I WAS OFF THE CLOCK, i wasn't obligated.....

If she reports you, you're better off just finding another job now. My friend Jamal pulled the same stunt you did - it was a woman holding a child reaching for a toy, but she couldn't get it and requested Jamal to pull it down for her. He refused (off the clock) and the next day his boss screamed and ripped into him and he was canned from his job.

He now works at a Noodles and Company but that's beside the point. I would really stress about this and go in the next morning to your boss and immediately apologize. Tell him you didn't know what you were doing and he'll probably let you keep your job. But you have to beg, I swear it'll work.

Good luck. *thumbs up*

I used to work for Wal-Mart. I think that they would prefer that in the future you helped the person, then clocked in and filled out an ETA (Electronic Time Adjustment). Wal-Mart would rather deal with that than have to deal with an angry customer and risk losing her business and possibly defending a lawsuit because of her injured foot.

That said, I don't think that you had any obligation to help the woman, so I doubt you'll be disciplined. Beware, though, that it might give your employer a reason to scrutinize your work more in the future.

So you have to be 'on the clock' to help someone do you? If Walmart has a policy preventing you from giving someone a hand then you did the right thing.

What I find wrong with this is that you are asking if you were OBLIGATED to help someone out. No one is obligated but most people don't mind giving someone a hand when they need it.

you were rude to a customer, you will probably get written up unless the Mgr ignores it. (unnecessary paperwork) You were off the clock, but you still work for the company. You wouldn't have gotten in trouble for helping her. If you weren't an employee you still could have been nice and helped her. I doubt youll get fired over it.

Your job shouldn't be at risk. If you had helped her and ended up hurting yourself or her, there would be a nuisance of insurance issues since you weren't on the job yet.

I see your point - you woulda been better off just saying you didn't work there. People suck.

I don't understand why you didn't help her. You could have helped her whether you were off the clock or not. However, she also shouldn't have expected the help, and it sounds to me like she was inappropriately rude to you in return.

As far as the job goes, I don't think you are at any risk of losing it unless you have a history of being rude to customers. There are always going to be a few crabby customers when you work in customer service and most managers know that. If you are really worried about it though, talk to your supervisor and tell him (or her) what happened. If you approach him about it first and express your concern, he will be more understanding than if he finds out about it on his own and has to approach you about it.