March 31, 2008

PLEASE READ AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK - HAVE NOT SENT THIS YET!
TO: Human Resource/Payroll Dept.

Beall’s Department stores

Reasons I quit Beall’s

1) I did not have a place to live, having searched in vain for someplace that I could afford. Because I needed a new apartment, and almost everywhere I looked was around $600 per month, plus they wanted first, last and security, the amount needed was around $1800, plus utilities deposit and for me, with two cats, pet deposit of around $200. I was looking at somewhere between $2,000 and 2500. At the same time, my transmission on my car was going out, and that was going to be around $1500. The car was no longer drivable. I would have had no way to get to work.

2) After Christmas, I was not getting any hours at Beall’s, despite the fact I was full time, being given only 21 -27 hours a week. Definitely not enough to live on. People with less seniority were given 35-40.

3) I have major medical problems, and since I wasn’t making any money (no hours) I could not afford my prescriptions, even with medical insurance.

4) At the time I quit, I told the store manager that I could not handle the new hours, that is, work until eleven, then come in the next morning at eight. That IS the straw that broke the camel’s back, for me at least. The first time I had to do this (Actually, the first time ANYONE had to do this, was ME, the very first day the new hours went into effect) I almost fell asleep at the wheel of my car. I was only able to get about six hours of sleep and I really need eight.

5) I was treated with very little respect at Beall’s. When I had to go to the bathroom, a certain manager often came looking for me! I was only gone for five or so minutes. He would even page me, knowing I had gone to the restroom. I did not abuse the privilege of using the restroom. It was embarrassing to be treated that way. I never left my area unattended, I would ask one of the other associates to watch my register for five minutes.

6) Again, the lack of respect. I had an assistant manager yell at me that “You better get those shoes put away because Ethel (not her real name) is in shoes and she doesn’t know where anything goes. “ A customer sitting there heard this and made a whip cracking sound and remarked to me, “Crack that whip.” I tried to laugh it off and said, “Oh yeah, crack that whip” but I was HUMILIATED!

7) If our lunch hour was from 5-6, say, but we were there till eleven, we should have gotten a 15-minute break. Sometimes my lunch was 4-5 and I was there till eleven – that’s six hours- without a 15-minute break. I couldn’t even take a five-minute bathroom break without being criticized!

8) As I said earlier, my health is not very good. I am a two-time cancer survivor!With all my problems – no place to live, car dying, no money for bills and medicines I need, I felt like I was having a nervous breakdown. I called my brother in Akron and he said I could stay for awhile to get my life back in order. I called my brother in Jacksonville and he helped me to get a U-Haul and pack it up. It was all arranged in about three days. It was $1000 for the U-haul and $500 for the gas and hotel to get to Ohio. That is still far less than the $3500 I would have needed for a new apartment and to get my car repaired (if even possible.)

Now you are telling me I cannot get paid for my 60 hours of vacation time! Please be assured I will see a lawyer if necessary to address this matter.

Sincerely,


Rebecca Novak