SuperAmerica - Express Your Displeasure!

[mrokern]

Many of us who are permit holders in the Twin Cities area have been emailing and expressing to corporate that we will be taking our business elsewhere. We prefer not to do business with companies who support criminals over law-abiding employees. Some local radio stations have taken up his cause as well. While this is not strictly gun-related, it IS self-defense related.

Please read the story below, and express your displeasure over SA's policies via their website.

-Mark (FYI, I'm not the Mark in the story)

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S437400.shtml?cat=206

KSTP.com - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Posted at: 05/07/2008 08:56:38 PM
Updated at: 05/08/2008 06:31:58 AM
By: Nicole Muehlhausen, Web Producer
Roseville gas station employee fired for attacking robber

A local gas station employee is out of a job after he thought he was helping save someone’s life.
Mark Beverly was one of two employees inside a Roseville Super America when a robber came into the store on March 26.
Beverly was cleaning the bathroom when he heard the store clerk cry out. He came out to find a robber attacking the female employee.
"I just jumped on his back and trying to hit his head and pushed him over the counter. I jumped back over and he was out of there," he said.
Later that day, Beverly returned to work only to be punished for his actions.
"I didn't think I was going to get fired for it," he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS.
Super America issued a statement, saying that ‘employees are never to take action that could endanger themselves or others. It’s regrettable this happened.’
Beverly was given a robbery prevention packet, but he says he got it after the attempted robbery.
"I didn't care about the money, I know Super America is insured. But I thought he was attacking her, that's why I jumped on him," he explained.
The Roseville Police Department has not made any arrests regarding the robbery. Beverly has been denied employment with Super America.

 

[armoredman]

Lawsuit.

 

[ScottyT]

These companies that order their employees to be good victims just blow my mind. If an armed bad guy gets the jump on a cashier, I can see the sense in cooperating and letting BG take the insured property, but this situation and the recent events with pizza delivery guys are ridiculous. oh well, no good deed goes unpunished I guess...

 

[lance22]

Contact SuperAmerica / Speedy here

Use this form to contact SuperAmerica. Let them know you are outraged that they fired an employee who successfully saved another while she was being attacked. If it were my wife or daughter that was saved by this man I would be eternally grateful, but instead SuperAmerica 'kicked him to the curb' (as one person on the TwinCities Carry forum put it).

http://www.speedway.com/ContactUs/EmailUs.aspx

Their 'good victim' policy devalues human life.

 

[hso]

Guys, there's no need to discuss this other than what we want to say. An employer has every right to tell its employees to let the BG have any property or money without resisting, but it is unreasonable to require them to stand by while a customer or colleague is under attack.

Blister them for not seeing the difference.

 

[KenpoProfessor]

I hope the whole state boycotts that store for that act. Problem is, it will leave hundreds of good people like him out of work. Can't win in this situation.

I hope they make good, or at least do something for this guy besides deny him unemployment (bastages).

Sent them an email via their site, thanks for the link lance22.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

 

[mgregg85]

I'll write them a letter and buy my gas from admiral now. I hope admiral isn't connected to speedway.

 

[KenpoProfessor]

Thank you for contacting us and making us aware of your concerns
regarding our SuperAmerica store located in Roseville, MN.

Confronting a potentially armed robber could have serious consequences
for employees and customers. While it is regrettable this situation
occurred, it is important that we have and enforce policies to ensure
the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially
dangerous situation.

Please understand that personnel issues are very sensitive and strictly
confidential. Be assured that appropriate management personnel have
been
made aware of your comments and concerns.

We appreciate your concern as well as your patronage, and hope that you
will continue to be one of our valued customers.

Sincerely,

Speedway SuperAmerica
Customer Service

I'm sure this was automated, and as it is, I'm pretty sure they're getting hundreds, if not thousands of emails right now.

Have a great gun carryin' Kenpo day

Clyde

 

[princewally]

That's their canned response. I know of at least a dozen folks who received the same thing.

 

[bogie]

Hey, it only take a moment... The "canned" responses are designed, in part, to limit overall response - they ARE noticing how many of these they get...

-=============-

I just heard about your organization firing an employee after he interrupted a robbery/assault on another employee. I travel quite a bit, and I'll make it a point to gas up where I know that the help will at least stand up for each other - that means that might help me out if someone tries to assault or harm me. I'm also going to request that my employees do the same.

I know for sure now that Superamerica is a dangerous place to be.

Charles Bogardus
Vice President, Operations
Synergicare

 

[conw]

My response.

Hello,

I am writing in regard to the recent job termination of Mark Beverly of Roseville. I am disgusted with your conduct in this matter. There is a definite line between an employee acting on behalf of the company to protect the funds--which you rightly do not endorse--and an employee acting honorably to defend someone whose life he felt was endangered.

Mr. Beverly, from all accounts, was acting in the second vein. I think it would be very wise for you to reconsider his termination. Clearly, Mr. Beverly has the moral fortitude that many people lack.

I travel frequently. I will take into account your business practices in this instance in the future and will not be using your services. Should you change your mind about Mr. Beverly, and feel that you might want my business, please give me a call.

***** ******

 

[hoppinglark]

what state is Roseville in?

 

[coyotehitman]

Slightly off topic, but the same company. Speedway/Super America prohibits its employees from contacting the police for gas drive offs and thefts. I was also told by an employee/acquaintance that they are required to telephone a manager in the event of a non violent robbery to determine whether police should be called. If strongarmed and they have been injured, they are permitted to telephone police. Strange mentality.

 

[mrokern]

For those who have asked, this was in Minnesota (Minneapolis / St. Paul metro).

-Mark

 

[mek42]

Confronting a potentially armed robber could have serious consequences for employees and customers. While it is regrettable this situation occurred, it is important that we have and enforce policies to ensure the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially dangerous situation.

So, standing around watching a coworker get murdered is apparently fun and games? How is standing around watching your fellow coworker get murdered ensuring "the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially dangerous situation"?

I'm going to start asking the various service people at small businesses that I frequent whether they are prohibited by company policy of defending themselves in the event of criminal assault while on duty. Then I'll start asking management (where appropriate) why they are trying to get their employees killed.

 

[bogie]

It'd probably be a Bad Thing to expose their policy regarding drive-offs and nonviolent thefts around teh interwebz, right?

 

[Andrew Rothman]

My email to SA:

I am highly disappointed in your actions in firing an employee WHO SAVED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE who was under physical attack by a thief.

The employee was acting TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE, and you say that that is contrary to your policies?

Your policies, then, are wrong.

Letting a thief have the money with no resistance is one thing; standing by while a fellow employee is attacked is something else.

Count me among the many who will not patronize your businesses until this outrage is corrected, and among those who will encourage their family, friends and associates to do the same.

Your employee deserves a medal, not a pink slip.

 

[bogie]

Okay.

You're going to get a form note back.

Follow that up with "Okay - so what are your safety policies about customers? If I'm being assaulted, am I on my own?" or the like.

I'm not gonna write it for you. But you're going to type 2-3-4 lines anyway, so it isn't going to be that hard. Be blunt and to the point - "How are you going to protect me?"

Is there a corporate phone number available?

 

[jaytex1969]

Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 2:19 AM
To: Customer Service, SSA
Subject: Feedback From Speedway.com

Comments: I will regrettably discontinue doing business with your company. Any business that would fire a man for defending another person under attack is not deserving of my money.

Mark Beverly deserves a commendation and a more worthy employer.

I do not wish ill upon anyone, but, had it been your mother, wife or daughter working with Mr. Beverly, I imagine your stance would be considerably different.

Thankfully, there are many other corner stores to patronize.

Thank you for reading my thoughts.


"Customer Service, SSA" <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for contacting us and making us aware of your concerns regarding our SuperAmerica store located in Roseville, MN.

Confronting a potentially armed robber could have serious consequences for employees and customers. While it is regrettable this situation occurred, it is important that we have and enforce policies to ensure the safety of all our employees and customers during a potentially dangerous situation.

Please understand that personnel issues are very sensitive and strictly confidential. Be assured that appropriate management personnel have been made aware of your comments and concerns.

We appreciate your concern as well as your patronage, and hope that you will continue to be one of our valued customers.

Sincerely,

Speedway SuperAmerica
Customer Service


5/13/2008 2:18:32 AM

Thanks for the canned response. It's exactly what I expected.

Unfortunately, it only reinforces my decision to discontinue my consumer relationship with your company. Standing behind your lawyer shield, afraid that someone making a morally correct spot decision might subject you to some level of liability, you obliterate the livelihood of one of the persons contributing to your success.

When will the corporate mindset regain its ability to stop treating personnel like incapable deductions from the bottom line and recognize the individual's possession of the very attributes every company claims to desire in an employee, such as initiative and critical decision making ability, or character in general?

Terrible sentence structure there. I apologize.

When you find that all you are able to hire are frightened monkeys who steal from the till and do as little as possible to keep their low paying job, think back to when you had real men and women with potential working for you.

I will pray that your decision makers grow more enlightened

Thank you.
-Jay

 

[jsjammerz]

It bugs me that he tried to do the right thing, and got punished for it. I thought we're supposed to try to help others when in need? He might have been told not to do that in a robbery, but who's to say that his boss wouldn't have done the same? We always want to help someone who's going to get hurt and if he hadn't intervened, the poor guy prolly would've been in trouble for not doing anything about it. It's a no-win situation.

It does make me wonder how they would treat customers during a robbery. I won't go there anymore, and will be telling others about this company who can't get their heads out of their asses.

 

[IllHunter]

Thanks for the link..

I canceled my speedy rewards account and told 'em " Human rights trump corporate rights"

 

[Orange_Magnum]

Don't do business with that company. Let it die.

 

[Gingerbreadman]

Heh. I grew up in that town. I lived a few blocks from BOTH Roseville Super Americas at one time or another. I wonder which one it was. Either way, I will be avoiding them now.