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Lululemon CEO holds firm on decision to fire employees who called the cops on shoplifters

“We didn’t really feel very protected or know what else to do.” (Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald is standing by his decision to fire two retail employees after they called police during a robbery at a store in Atlanta, Georgia in late April. 

A video, captured by one of the former employees, shows three masked men entering the store and swiping piles of the expensively-priced apparel before being told to “get out,” and running off.

The video of the thieves in action has gained traction on Twitter in recent days, despite the store falling victim to a slew of robberies in the weeks leading up to the staff members’ dismissal, according to media reports. 

McDonald confirmed in an interview with CNBC on Friday that the Canadian brand takes a zero tolerance approach towards “employees engaging during a theft,” stating the parties concerned had “knowingly broken company policy.” 

His response rang alarm bells online. Many sided with the floor workers, and equated McDonald’s decision to terminate the employees with a lacklustre concern for their safety.

However, others sprang to his defence, stating that it is standard practice in retail to train employees to disengage during a robbery.

But Rachel Rogers, one of the two women who was terminated for approaching the assailants, told Atlanta based news outlet 11Alive that they called the police because they “didn’t really feel very protected or know what else to do.” 

Whether their actions warrant termination seems to be at the crux of a now viral debate, with some directing their outrage towards what they deem to be an excessive punishment; and a glaringly transparent concern for the interests of a multi-billion dollar business over the well-being of its staff. On the contrary, many contend that alerting authorities was not only a clear breach of policy but could have unnecessarily escalated an already hostile encounter.

“It’s only merchandise,” McDonald told CNBC, in other words, let them have it. 

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