Even for people who love their jobs, there will always be some responsibility or aspect of the job that is less than enjoyable. However, they stay because the good aspects of the job outweigh the bad.
For a long time, one teenager from Canada stayed at his job at Walmart because he was getting a lot of hours and was making a steady paycheck. Yet when the bad things about the job started to outweigh the good, he decided to resign in a way that would send his message loud and clear to management…
A Loyal Employee
For more than a year and a half, one teenager from Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada has been an employee at the city’s local Walmart. According to 17-year-old Jackson Racicot, he always made sure to be a dependable and hardworking employee.
The Company Culture
Soon after he got a job at the Walmart, however, Racicot started to realize the company culture wasn’t as great as he was lead to believe while interviewing for the position. He had been told by managers at the store that employees are always valued and respected.
Unfair Treatment
Racicot soon realized that the way his managers at the store treated him and other fellow employees was anything but fair and respectful. Instead, he and other store employees were regularly treated poorly and written up for ridiculous offenses.
Sticking It Out
Racicot always imagined that if he quit one day, he would find a way to make his exit dramatic to make a point to management. However, Racicot explained that he never felt pushed to the point of quitting. While there was a lot Racicot didn’t enjoy about his job, he had always put up with it without much complaint.
Staying For The Money
The main reason Racicot had stayed so long at Walmart was that he was getting a steady paycheck. However, after working there for a year and a half, the loyal and dependable employee was finally pushed to his limit and decided it was finally time to leave.
An Unnecessary Challenge
According to Racicot, management had been moving him around the store making him work in different departments every single day. Racicot believed he would be able to do his job better if he could focus on one department instead of jumping around each day.
A ‘Waste Of Time’
On several occasions, Racicot made requests to his manager to be assigned to one department, which he believed was a fair and logical request. Racicot’s assistant manager didn’t agree and called the teenager a ‘waste of time.’ While frustrating and insulting, Racicot tried to let it go.
Punished For Being A Hardworker
Unfortunately, another incident occurred not long after. According to the 17-year-old, he was written up for working on his day off, which he was doing to try and make up hours. After he was punished for being a dedicated and hardworking employee, Racicot knew it was finally time to leave.
The Last Straw
“It was a little shove because my toes were already hanging off the edge,” Racicot recently told The Star about the reason he decided to stop working at Walmart. At that point, Racicot started planning his exit strategy and committed to making it as dramatic as possible.
The Resignation Letter
On December 6, 2018, Racicot finally went through with his plan. That day, Racicot went to work with his resignation letter, which he had handwritten on a copy of his resume. Sometime after showing up for his shift, the 17-year-old handed his letter to his assistant manager.
The Rant
After officially resigning, Racicot walked over to the intercom system and typed in a number combination that would allow him to broadcast his message to the entire store. “Attention all shoppers, associates, and management,” Racicot said to get everyone’s attention.
Airing His Grievances
With both the attention of his former coworkers and every customer in the store, Racicot then proceeded to air all of his grievances, which he explained were the cause for his dramatic resignation. At that point, Racicot was also filming the scene on his iPhone.
A Bold Warning
“I would like to say to all of you today that nobody should work here. Ever,” Racicot warned over the loudspeaker. “Our managers will make promises and never keep them and not only that, they will preach to us about how they care about their employees.”
No Help
“But about a month ago, my boss, assistant manager Cora, called me a waste of time and management did nothing to help,” Racicot explained during his expletive-filled rant. “Management will also try to save money every step of the way,” he added.
The Employees Lose Out
During his store-wide announcement, Racicot explained that during his time working at the store, he saw how management would save money at the expense of their employees. According to Racicot, they did that by cutting benefits of full-time employees to a part-time employee.
A Breaking Point
Racicot, who worked typically worked more than 40 hours a week, was just one of several full-time employees who had their benefits unfairly cut. “I’ve been a loyal employee here for over a year and a half, and I’m sick of all the bull—-, bogus write-ups, and my job,” he said.
Uploading The Footage
As if his message wasn’t already clear, Racicot finished off his cathartic speech by saying “F— management. F— this job. F— Walmart.” According to Racicot, he then immediately left the store and went home. Once at home, Racicot uploaded the footage of his resignation to his Facebook page.
A Viral Sensation
“I was expecting a couple hundred views and a few shares,” Racicot said. Yet the video quickly went viral and has been viewed over 600,000 times. “I got fed up,” Racicot told the Edmonton Journal after his rant went viral. “I don’t regret what I did, I went into this knowing what will happen,” said Racicot, who also added that he had already secured another job before his Walmart resignation.
Walmart’s Reaction
“We are aware of the video circulating online and are disappointed by this incident,” Walmart said in a statement reported by the Edmonton Journal. “Respect for all individuals including our associates and customers is a core value at Walmart. We are looking into this matter and will address it internally as required.”
Taking A Stand
“I want people to start boycotting it,” said Racicot, who has since been contacted by other Walmart employees who are fed up with the way management treats them. “It’s not just our f—ing Walmart. It’s nationwide. It’s a corporate thing. It’s how the managers are trained,” Racicot said. “Don’t be treating your employees as if you own them, [as] if they are your property. Don’t think to throw them around.”
