The SHIELD -Major screw up by me- 2 people fired

[Moonman]

turbo38gn,

Well stated,and you've now learned that the corporate world is a different and viscous one within the business world. Corporations, especially big ones are truly an entity unto themselves. They have policies and rules that can be very rigid and stern.

 

[forresth]

Lastly, I have no experience with the corporate world or with an advertizing campaign. I have a little now and can assure you just as much as anyone invloved.... if we didn't know before, we do now. So for all the spanking posts I have received here, it's ok, you had experience and a understanding of the rules, I didn't, thanks for sharing and hopefully I am a better person with the knowledge you have shared.

Are you honestly saying you didn't see the mysterious build-up campaign that just said stuff like; "The Shield is coming" but no pictures and no description constantly out there? Or are you claiming that you didn't think showing pictures around wouldn't disrupt what they were trying to accomplish? You don't need an MBA to figure that one out, just a little common sense.

Did none of you ex-insider friends never mention the word "secret" ?

 

[Denver Dick]

. . . but to answer a few questions, nothing was said when I took a picture or after I took it. . . .

See, here's the deal from my perspective. If the employees saw or knew you were taking photos, then you did nothing really wrong and they're on their own. You can feel sorry for them, but don't blame yourself too much. However, if you took the photos without them knowing you were taking them, well, then you should feel really terrible for the firing of the two employees.

We eventually learn in life that all our of actions have consequences, often unintended, hence, the phrase (cleaned up a bit for this forum): Life's a (tough thing) and then you die. JMHO

 

[oldRoger]

This is of course a very sad story with probably no redemption in sight, that is to say it will not have a happy ending.

When employees violate their terms of employment, an employer must apply the appropriate discipline as outlined in the employee manual or equivalent. If he does not he is positioned to lose the next and perhaps more serious case that occurs.

Usually there is some room in the level of discipline for a violation, but if this is one of those which have termination as the only outcome the employees must be terminated.

My last employer had a strict; no intoxication or impairment on the job rule, termination was the only outcome.
This is but an example of the sort of rule which cannot be flexible.
The violation of trust in OP’s case involving company secrets may not seem important to us, but we are not the judges. The next secret passed around might lead to large company losses.

 

[DEG]

I doubt the level of harm caused or the importance of keeping the release secret played any role in the decision to terminate. Everywhere I've worked, there is nothing that will get you fired faster than a violation of trust regardless of the outcome of the violation.

 

[geoff40]

Typically, employees of a gun maker have to sign agreements that they won't divulge the company's secrets. The agreement will go on to say that termination will be the result of any breach of trust. Allowing the gun to be seen by you, allowing it to be photographed by you, both of these events are very serious violations of the confidentiality contracts these people sign. Trust me, I know exactly the sort of documents they have to periodically sign.

They have my sympathies, and in this economy my prayers too, but they should have known better. If they did this with you, how many others got to see the gun?

 

[KLNFrame]

Your Stupidity has cost men their jobs.

 

[blujax01]

Your Stupidity has cost men their jobs.

Harsh toke, Dude.

Let's call it "shared stupidity". The employees were equally at fault.

 

[KLNFrame]

Harsh toke, Dude.

Let's call it "shared stupidity". The employees were equally at fault.

The Employees didn't send or tell others on the Internet about the pics .
If he hadn't sent those pics no one would have lost their jobs.

 

[SixGunHunter]

The Employees didn't send or tell others on the Internet about the pics .
If he hadn't sent those pics no one would have lost their jobs.

DID YOU READ HIS POST!!!!!!

He took the Picture IN FRONT OF THE EMPLOYEES and this is not the first time that he has taken pictures inside S&W's Corp Store.

How is it that all of this is Turbo38's fault? He does not work there, he does not know how Corps work and he does not know advertising. We are not talking about the leaking of a "never before seen 100% different firearm" here. It's a small M&P!

What about my question....Why is a "Top Secret" "Soon to be Released" new Pistol in the STORE?

I just don't understand some of the members here and how rude and inconsiderate you can be when he answered your question and the complete story is there for all to read.

Turbo38 is/was a favorite customer of the S&W Corp. Store. He spent his money there, took several pictures inside the store and had friends there. I am not telling you anything different than what he wrote.
A Corporation decided to get rid of 2 employee's because They did not do their job. Period.

Just IMHO, I am a Truck driver. I have to label my return loads. It is the Job of One Person to make sure I do this. If not, I get written up. OK, understand. The Job of One Person to make sure I do My Job right. If He does not report anything on a daily report then why does he have a job?
I am smelling the same thing at S&W.

 

[ladder13]

Why was this SUPER SECRET Shield even IN the factory store?

 

[jspick]

Well it wasn't much of a adverstising campaign. I don't know a thing about "The Shield"
I know I live a somewhat sheltered life here out west but I am a regular at a local gun shop and they would have told me about it had they known.

John

 

[DeadAye]

Here's my take:
IF you feel that it's your fault that they were fired you should support them in the manner to which they've become accustomed until they can find comparable employment.

P.S. - They ain't gonna even look for a job while you're supporting them!

 

[sipowicz]

Why was this SUPER SECRET Shield even IN the factory store?

That particular store was also super secret...there is no address on it and it has no doors or windows. I can tell you how to get it in but then I'd have to kill you...and of course, the employee who built the secret entrance would be fired.

 

[KLNFrame]

DID YOU READ HIS POST!!!!!!
QUOTE]

Yeah I read it and he admits sending the pics to a few guys on M4Carbine or someone got it of his photobucket..Blah Blah Blah....
Read below what he said.



"This is a situation that has so many levels of mistakes that it just doesn't seem right to punish anyone. Even I can say I didn't release the picture publicly, but I did talk about seeing and handling it. The mistake I made, saying I had a picture but didn't think it was a good idea to show it publicly. I succumbed to a few guys on M4Carbine asking me to pm the picture to them and they promised not to pass it on... what a fool I was, it may not have been them though. It may have been someone smart enough to trace other pictures I posted in the past back to my Photobucket account, I believe someone definitely got the picture from there"

YEAH.. SO IT IS HIS FAULT.DON"T PASS THE BUCK.

 

[handejector]

Why was this SUPER SECRET Shield even IN the factory store?

Simple-
they wanted inventory on hand for the launch hour. It was first released at the NRA show according to some here. I would imagine that at that hour the company store was supposed to start displaying it publicly after pulling it from the back room. Kinda like people line up at the mall for the new tennis shoes. Be the first kid on your block.....




The OP implies that it was not visible to the public when he says:

I was shown that gun because I was trusted, I just didn't realize the seriousness of the advertising campaign and what it meant to some.

 

[Danno_man]

This is a situation that has so many levels of mistakes that it just doesn't seem right to punish anyone. Even I can say I didn't release the picture publicly, but I did talk about seeing and handling it. The mistake I made, saying I had a picture but didn't think it was a good idea to show it publicly. I succumbed to a few guys on M4Carbine asking me to pm the picture to them and they promised not to pass it on... what a fool I was, it may not have been them though. It may have been someone smart enough to trace other pictures I posted in the past back to my Photobucket account, I believe someone definitely got the picture from there

Once you sent the photo out to those guys, it was public.

I'd worry about any legal actions S&W may take (if any).

 

[keith44spl]

Why was this SUPER SECRET Shield even IN the factory store?

That particular store was also super secret...there is no address on it and it has no doors or windows. I can tell you how to get it in but then I'd have to kill you...and of course, the employee who built the secret entrance would be fired.

And........The mascot was...........The secret squirrel on patrol.


Question; Can you keep a secret?
Answer: I don't know....Can I?

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Mr Pokeyman]

All I know is, the 2 store employees are lucky they were not working for the Gov't. They wouldn't just be fired, they would be sitting in a prison somewhere. As far as the OP goes, well he would be lucky not to be sharing a cell with them. The agency I was in, arrested employees all the time and put their pictures on the inter agency computer in what is known as the wall of shame. It's sent to all employees like a e-mail newsletter. People who "just" got fired were very lucky.

 

[blujax01]

The Employees didn't send or tell others on the Internet about the pics .
If he hadn't sent those pics no one would have lost their jobs.

They didn't have to tell others about the picture - They had the real thing to show off!

Would we be having this discussion if they hadn't jeopardized their employment by giving him the gun in the first place?

Gee, maybe after they saw him taking pictures they might have had second thoughts and put a stop to it?

Or in the time between the incident and the pictures getting published what if they had approached the boss and said something?

Nah ...