Working at Home Depot

I worked at a Home Depot in the Austin area and thought it would be a good job to earn a little money after retiring. I came from high tech so to me, the management was marginal, the benefits were not at all comparable to what I had before and the pay was basically gas money. I have a background in remodeling so was a good fit. I liked the other employees and enjoyed working with the customers but I felt that management had no clue about my value as an employee. I finally resigned because they gave me such crummy hours. I have tried for over a month to get them to pay me for mileage when my job required me to go out of town. They won't even call me back so after about 10 calls to the local store and to corporate, I am going to file a complaint with the TEC (Texas Employment Commission). I don't like to be stiffed.

Last week I was terminated, or as management likes to call it "promoted to customer", by The Home Depot. I admit that my firing was legitimate due to the fact that I used an electric ladder, or scissor lift, without a license. An employee in the appliance department needed to remove a microwave from the top shelf in the back of the store for a customer who was being extremely patient. After he made multiple attempts over the walkie-talkie and the PA to find a licensed operator (or manager), I decided to go over and see if I could help. I first attempted to retrieve the microwave using a tall, rolling ladder...but the microwave was just too heavy, especially seen as though I was on my toes. At this time (about 20 minutes into the customer's initial request for help), I decided to get the electric ladder which was two aisles over. I have used an electric ladder multiple times prior to my employment at THD. I moved it into place and started to go up. Just as I had the platform raised to eye level, the LPI (Loss Prevention Investigator) came around the corner. He asked what I was doing...and then asked where my "gates" or barriers were. I told him that gates were not necessary when using this equipment, but he insisted they were. Note: After reviewing the paper version of trainging to become a licensed EL user, it clearly states on one of the pages that barriers and spotters are not necessary. Now to my knowledge, all written training overrules computer training because it is always accessible to the employee. Anyway, the LPI was told by my co-worker that I was not licensed, but still allowed my to proceed with my (excellent customer service." The customer was bitching about the store with my co-worker, and the two of them had a couple of choice words top say about THD. The LPI pulled my co-worker into another aisle and warned him about his mouth and attitude in front of customers. Anyway....the micro come downs, the customer thanked me...to be cont.

cont...for being the only person that would help, and the day went on. Keep in mind, I was not warned or told not to use the equipment by my LPI. I believe the LPI position is considered management, but I may be wrong. Either way, in our store he was the head of the InFocus team, which is a compiled group of employees that focus on safety in the store. At no time did he tell me to stop, explain to me that I would be written-up for my actions, or warn me that I may be fired. Nope, two weeks later I get pulled in to the manager's office by the LPI, regional LPI, and assistant store manager. They made me fill out a statement regarding the incident so that it could be sent to corporate for a decision. Three working days later I was brought back to the office and canned by the store manager and assistant store manager. Now, I have already stated that I knew I had gone against safety protocol and acknowledge my dismissal...but I'm hung-up on the fact that they will not do anything to the LPI, despite his total disregard for safety by allowing me (without a license) to operate the machine. To be continued.

Other tings to know about The Home Depot before applying or shopping there:
My tenure lasted just over one year. I was a Flooring Specialist, and due to experience, made after 1 year $16.00 per hour. Many will say this is a decent hourly wage, but I was offered the Department Head position earlier in the year for a minimal increase in salary. I turned down the position because I was worth more than the offer and the schedule sucked. They hired a guy from The Sports Authority with no experience installing or selling flooring, and with no product knowledge. But wait, somehow his offer hourly wage was higher than the one they had offered to me?! That's right...and with that, let me explain some things about the biggest home repair retailer in the world:
-They don't recycle.
-Mostly everything in the store that does not sell or is slightly damaged, gets thrown in a compacting dumpster. No charities are helped....local churches, Habitat for Humanity, etc.
-Employees receive no discount.
-Everyone working in the store, does not want to be there. Exceptions to this, are the incredibly fake and puppeted managers and assistant managers. The majority of workers hate their job.
-Despite its family-like training implies, not a single person in THD cares about your well-being, hours, salary, or family as an employee.
-As a customer, the "you can do it, we can help" line should be abandoned once you walk through the door. Defending myself and a few others, you may actually find an employee that knows everything you need them to know and will help you with 100% attentiveness and integrity. BUT...chances are you going to get a newly-trained (by computer), no product knowledge, picking-their-ass 20-something year old kid that is more concerned that his breath smells like the booze or weed he had the night before.

-EVERYTHING can be returned to THD. No receipt? Who cares. THD has such a big ego, that they take back everything so as to provide the customer service you are looking for and that they need to toot their own horn. People bring back used things, opened and replaced by bricks things, cut and altered pieces, etc. But somehow, a manager will always allow it.
-As an employee, you better stick to the schedule in terms of days, hours, lunches, etc. or else you won't last one month. The stock in THD is so low now, that the company is being pressured into cutting jobs. Full-timers will feel the blunt of this lay-off due to their hours...but everyone is open game.
-The managers of the stores are the biggest jokes around. The majority of them wouldn't know what to do if you placed a hammer in one hand and a nail in the other. They use fake smiles, discounts, and promises to get through the day. And the worst part is that they all wish they were doing something else with their life.
-I used THD as an in-between-jobs way to earn a paycheck. I have a four year bachelor's degree, master's degree, and law degree. I got along with some people in the store, but the majority of them are worth forgetting. I guess I brought it on myself when I expected that my education, experience, and general moral status would allow me to be content with the position. WRONG. The Home Depot is nothing more than a bottom-line, could care less about the customer, retail chain. The "deals" that you can get there can be found for cheaper on-line. The workshops they conduct are not worth your time. Managers=Idiots.

With all that being said, I'm a big fan of Lowe's either. Their employees are just as bad as those at THD, but I don't know how things work internally. I don't think anything could be worse that the abuse that THD employees deal with. Shop at your local hardware store and put money back into your own community, rather than waste it at The Home Depot. Happy Halloween

dumbass where in heck did you ever think you could climb an electric ladder during customer hours and without banners? oh and let's not forget without license. I'm sorry but I think the 11th commandment should be " the stupid shall be punished " anyway you got no one to thank but yourself. stop being so bitter toward the depot. this is not a good time to be out of work for something stupid...what did you read that said it's ok to use electric ladder without banners?

I agree with the assesment that the proceedure with the electric ladder was beyond company training and limits, Safety is an immediate firing offense. That is the support on behalf od HD. The part about the non-caring about employees and the ignorance of puppet management is spot-on, however. I have never worked for any company with a lower regard for the humanity of their associates.

I guess a lot of that is definately on a store by store basis. There are certain things I don't agree with, like when they pick and choose who gets terminated and for what, for example some associates had like 20+ attendance points and kept their job others reach 10 and are automatically fired. what's up with that? But as far as management at my store is pretty awesome (most of the time)Sometimes if you do a little research you can find a better store near by and request a x-fer. Also find a store that makes sales plan so you could score some bonus money. Just a tip from an orange blooded associate.

yeah, I know.. A lot of it is unfair, but one also needs to keep in mind that we, as a hugely litigous society have created this on our own. Even though I dislike the employee policies at HD, I also realize what a tremendous load of liability that they are forced to address.. You are correct, the ladder without the little card hanging on the apron, dumb.. Just because you know how doesn't enable you to perform the action without following the system parameters. That is not just HD, It is any commercial endeavor in this country. The golden rule.. "He with the gold, makes the rules"

I've never heard that version of the golden rule before, It is definately true. Notice how when the economy goes sour, all the big union companies cave first. I always said unions are nothing more than organized thugs. Sure they'll pay a moron $24.oo to clean toilets and $24.oo in benefits, but when the company goes bankrupt which is inevitable, that moron will collect $200.00 a month in unemployment. "GO Union"

"BUT...chances are you going to get a newly-trained (by computer), no product knowledge, picking-their-ass 20-something year old kid that is more concerned that his breath smells like the booze or weed he had the night before."
I happen to be a 21 year old THD employee. I have been with HD since Aug '05. I provide nothing but great customer service and overall enjoy my job. I have worked at 3 diff HDs. and have mostly never had bad days..... I have had a chance to learn life lessons and meet so very awesome people..... I rarely drink more than a glass of wine(on my night off btw) and i have never even tried weed..... Yeah 20 somethings may have a bad rep but dont diss us all... I have learned I am more adult than most of those i work with old enough to be my parent...