I've been working at a relatively small retail company for less than a year. I'm in an entry-level position. Our workplace is unique, as we have the retail showroom for our company attached to the corporate offices. Because of this, many of the employees spend time down in the showroom basically using the store as a guinea pig to test out ideas that we may or may not implement throughout the other company stores.

Today I was in the store shopping/socializing after I finished working for the day. At one point I heard some commotion up in the front of the store where the registers are located. I was about 50 feet away and I could clearly hear a man yelling at a couple of cashiers. I walked over to the area, the man was being clearly unreasonable and verbally hostile. I stepped into the conversation, where I learned that the man was an employee of the company. It turns out he was ignorant of company policies regarding coupons/employee discounts and was raising a giant storm after assuming he had been shafted a dollar out of a $14 purchase.

After a few minutes he realized he was wrong and walked out of the store. Immediately I apologized to the cashiers and told them that I would figure out who this employee was and contact his supervisor. So I go back to my office and do some detective work in the corporate directory. Turns out that this guy is the manager for the whole HR department for the company and he is the direct supervisor of the guy who hired me. This guy reports to the VP of the company.

I feel kind of lost on what I should do. The company is kind of tight-knit and old-fashioned, everyone knows each other. We have one of those boxes in the breakroom where complaints can be anonymously submitted, but I've never been a fan of passive-aggressive stuff like that. Is there a way to make this guy accountable for his actions without jeopardizing my career?

you are entry level, why are you apologizing to other entry level employees, and trying to get someone who can fire you in trouble? sounds like you should mind your own business to me.

do nothing

Yeah I'd leave this one alone, also.

You do nothing.

First ever corporate job. Thanks for advice.

walk into his office; shut the door; pull down your pants and show him who the REAL big swinging dick is

Generally entry-level retail workers don't hang out when they're off the clock. GTFO at shift end next time.

I'm not a retail worker.

you are entry level at a retail company, you said that in your op ldo.

OP you are entry level and have gotten on the bad side of HR head. Your career at this company is now ****ed. Best get your resume circulating ASAP. I am completely serious.


ETA: I'm not saying you'll be fired. But you won't be making any significant upward progress either. GTFO.

Eh, he was openly hostile towards two young cashiers and I stepped in with an "Is everything cool?" Once I realized he was an employee I stepped back and let him and the cashiers hammer it out.

sounds like they had sex

How out of line? Just raising his voice, or straight up in their faces threatening.

Also are you trying to bang one of the cashiers?

1) you were off the clock, none of your business.
2) even if you were on the clock, you're entry level, not management, none of your business
3) when you clock out, leave work ldo, it's a workplace, not a hang out place

do you work in the retail side or the corporate side? if corporate side then you were out of line saying anything (unless your in direct management over retail operations, which it seems like you're not) they presumably have retail managers and that's their job.

this is where I'd just take out a 5 dolla bill and give it to him and say "keep the change im rich bish.

Well I could hear him yelling from 50+ feet away in a crowded store with a lot of noise. If it makes any difference his tirade was profanity laced and our company is heavily customer service and family-oriented.

I'm on the corporate side. There was no manager in the vicinity. My only interaction was "Hey, is everything cool here?" I honestly thought the dude was just some random borderline psychotic customer.

I assume the cashiers would tell their boss, who might do something about it. If this guy was seriously screaming at the top of his lungs make a huge and inappropriate scene, it will come back to him...at least in my world "reporting to the VP" does not make you untouchable.

I also work for a huge firm though, so it might be a bigger deal in a small company.

anonymously send the jack a book on TQM

For all you know, the cashiers said or did something to set him off. Maybe they acted snotty, or acted like he was stupid for not knowing the policy, or whatever. That's no excuse for a profanity-laced tirade, but there are definitely two sides to the story.

Stay out of it.

Good point. Thread advice unanimous, doing nothing is clearly the right play. Lock thread.

Lol whats going on here?

You're off the clock just hanging out?

You're entry level but getting into matters like you're management?

Damn son, kinda creepy.

I say go at him. This is your big chance. Get statements from the cashiers, go over his head, and get him fired. This hot-headed fool has no business heading HR.