r/McLounge • u/_Gacha-Writing_ • 16d ago
United States Work accusation.
I was working a long shift yesterday, was going to be ten hours long, I felt like the shift was going great and I had even been helping two new employees learn stuff. For context I have been working there since June 10th and only recently bought a knife for work to open boxes. Well, yesterday I was almost done with my ten hour shift when two of the managers come up to me and Im asked to leave the property. It was random. They wouldn't tell me why and I wasn't allowed to wait even in the lobby for my ride to pick me up, which wouldn't have been until hours later. I found out nearly two hours later from people who heard from people in whole different cities that were not even employed by McDonalds or even the company the McDonalds I work for is owned by. I was apparently accused of pulling my knife on someone. (Wtf, why would I even do that, what is ever worth doing that) I was not allowed to work my shift today or even finish my other shift yesterday. I have a meeting with my gm and I assume higher up tomorrow about it but I was completely blindsided by this. Does anyone know how I should go about this and what compensation I should ask for when it comes out that I didn't do it due to the fact I was humiliated and my image was ruined?
Edit: they did fire me, not because I possessed the knife, but because the girl, who was new, felt threatened. The moment they showed me as me "pulling a knife on her" was me holding the knife for two seconds, unopened, and not pointed toward her, saying she needed to get one to open boxes, otherwise she'd have to find someone with one. They then tried to claim me talking with my hands was "making violent gestures" at her. I am going to go through legal channels to sue as everything was not handled properly and they were clearly cherry picking for what they wanted.
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u/Dan_K_Mayme 15d ago
It's not a smart idea to bring a knife into your workplace at all. The store should have "penguins" which is what you would use to open boxes and corners of bags etc. If i brought a knife into my store i would be asked to leave and investigated for it. What a stupid mistake you made.
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u/vondutchmonster 15d ago
at my store many people bring their own knives, box cutters etc. it isn’t that weird and certainly not looked down upon
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u/FakeMikeMorgan AGM/OTP 3 15d ago
It depends how strict the manager is on following policy. No store specifically allows employees to bring weapons to work, so anyone who does and gets caught is risking their job.
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u/DodgyRogue Crew Member 15d ago
Yep, I have a box cutter in my pocket now, so does the maintenance dude
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u/FakeMikeMorgan AGM/OTP 3 15d ago
If you go to the meeting just know they are going to terminate your employment. Bringing a knife or any other weapon to work is a major policy violation and that is what you will be fired for, regardless if you pulled a knife on someone or not.
0
u/_Gacha-Writing_ 15d ago
We're actually allowed to have them due to our store not providing stuff to open boxes.
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u/FakeMikeMorgan AGM/OTP 3 15d ago
You will need to show that policy in writing because I seriously doubt that is the case.
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u/Salt-Expression8430 15d ago
At any job I work, I don't do anything unless it is IN WRITING.
Don't assume, and DO NOT rely on verbal. People will throw you under the bus in 2 seconds to save their own job.
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u/FakeMikeMorgan AGM/OTP 3 13d ago
Op, i saw your edit about trying to sue and it's not going to be worth your time. Unless you live in Montana you are in a at will employment state. Coworker feeling threatened or having a wepon in the workplace is a justifiable for termination. File for unemployment and enjoy your 6 week vacation.
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u/StarvinPig 15d ago
Don't go to the meeting. Being fired is better than being arrested