Others Storys from Winco Foods

Jacks Story 07/24/2012

Hello Joseph, my name is Jack. I stumbled upon your story online as to how you were fired from your job with Winco foods.

I have worked for Winco Foods here in Idaho for 9 years, 7 months. I have worked hard, and have always been praised for a job well done.

On the day of my 50th birthday, I was walking back from my lunch break to clock back in to work and noticed that someone had left a $2 credit on the Idaho lottery machine. This was not a $2 bill sitting lost on the floor. Someone had paid for a lottery ticket on the machine, then chose for whatever reason not to redeem it.

I thought it was a random act of kindness, and I redeemed the credit. I did not, and do not feel that I violated company policy on "lost or found" items, and this was not a lost item but an unclaimed credit on a lottery machine.

Two days later I was fired for "Gross Misconduct" and theft.

I have been denied insurance Cobra coverage for my family.

I have been denied unused paid vacation time.

Winco Foods has decided to fight my unemployment claim, I have an appeal hearing in the morning at 8:15am with the Idaho Labor Board.

I am 100 percent vested in my ESOP, but can not touch those funds for 5 more years.

I am facing eviction, and about to lose everything for my family if this unemployment appeal does not succeed.

I know there is nothing you can do to help me with this situation, but I wanted to share my story with you so that you know you are not alone.

What happened to you, and what has happened to me, was unfair.

I hope you are doing well now.

Sincerely,

Jack

I started with Winco almost 10 years ago, when Bill Long was still in charge of things. Heck of a man Mr. Long. Very kind and respectful. After he retired, he often did his shopping in our store, and we were on a first name basis. You really got the feeling that the company cared, and you were a part of something big when Mr. Long was in charge. Although he really hated being called "Mr. Long", and insisted that I call him Bill.

In our department, I have seen MIT's come and go, and even managers. My wife often encouraged me to go for MIT, but it was not that much more pay then I was already making hourly, and in my estimation, not worth the headache. Besides, the few times I did fill out the application for MIT, my application was often lost. I got the feeling the store manager liked the team "as is", and did not want to risk me being transferred to another location.

Thanks for letting me know about the grievance committee. I am not even remotely interested in getting my job back. Being treated with so much disrespect and disregard after 9 years 7 months of dedicated top notch service to a company I own shares in changed any chance of getting my respect back for them. No thank you.