Employee asks about moving heavy boxes to a safer place, employer deflects by writing them up for dress code violation

Unless the issues being raised are completely out of left field and hold no water, an organization should always treat them seriously; even purely as a means of covering themselves from any legal or operational vulnerabilities. Being dismissive or even retaliatory against a complainant might make the headache or "problem" of them calling attention to it go away, but there's a good chance that their fears coming to fruition and the ensuing grievance will be much more of a headache than dealing with the issue in the first place. And that's even before you consider the ethics involved and your duty to do the right thing.

When you're discussing these sensitive issues, it's probably best to have a means of communication that suits the purpose. Look, Discord as a platform is fantastic for a great number of things. It's flexible and leaves a lot of room for creativity in communication and adaptation, but those same strengths become drawbacks when you look at using it for your organization's primary method of professional and secure internal communication. Just as you wouldn't write your doctorate dissertation with a crayon, maintaining a means of sensitive written communication that fits the use case is equally important. Of course, it should come as no surprise that an organization using Discord would also use "whataboutism" to deflect a legitimate complaint by leveling its own complaint against the grievant worker in an effort to get them to drop the issue altogether.

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • Possibly, the employee and original poster of this topic could have approached the situation better, and the manager's initial request that they offer a solution is a somewhat fair point, but from there, the conversation escalates to totally unnecessary levels once safety is mentioned. At the end of the day, it's just a box… What's the issue with just finding another place for it to be stored that's easier and safer to access for those accessing it? 

    The screenshots below were shared by the employee to a popular online workplace community, where readers shared their thoughts and advice surrounding the situation.

  • 01
    "I don't really understand why there's so much hostility toward me when I bring up a valid concern. It makes me kind of uncomfortable when I'm trying to address something that concerns everyone."
    via CHUTTERSNAP
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  • 02

    "I guess Ill be handing out resumes tomorrow..."

    me Today at 5:41 PM where do i get more paper bags please 2 skip orders waiting Stage? Today at 5:41 PM me Today at 5:41 PM Big ones are on top of the line shelf by the nacho chips Huge box be careful Today at 6:32 PM yeah in the future if we could not store heavy boxes where i have to stand on line to get them
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 03
    managerday at 6:33 PM me Normally you don't have to get them, not really anywhere else to put them either so If you have a suggestion instead of a complaint I'll hear it out. Today at 6:36 PM A suggestion instead of a complaint? Today at 6:44 PM it was more of a safety concern
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 04
    Today at 6:48 PM I was about to say that, I have a bad back and the amount of times that box has fallen on me while pulling it down is frustrating to say the least. And now it's a problem that we're "complaining" about something that I know at least 2 of us view as a safety concern? manager It's complaining because at no point do you voice an option for a solution to your concern just a complaint and for someone else to deal with it. We are a "team" and that means making decisions that solve pro
    via u/cryoniccrown
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  • 05
    me oday at 6:57 PM i get that it normally isnt my responsibility to get them or whatever you were saying but thats not always the case, it doesnt always get restocked by someone else so when I end up alone on line and need them eventually I have to get them ill try to think of somewhere else for them i guess im just not the one who puts away orders so i brought it up to whoever i assumed is in charge of that owner Today at 7:20 PM Safety concern? I am it. We also have a dress code that is not be
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 06

    The employee offered this context to the situation to expand on their post

    this might seem kind of petty but this is just one instance in a long series of horrible business practices Ive witnessed in the 4 months Ive worked here. for context, im 5'2, lots of stuff in our kitchen is high up, normally I have a second person with me but sometimes when its slow im working alone. In most cases I dont need to reach the stuff thats up high, its just back up stock of stuff thats
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 07
    stored lower, or its very light boxes that I have methods of getting to when im alone. however this time I needed to get the bags down, which is a pretty heavy box (im not sure how heavy cause im bad with that kind of stuff but i wanna say at least 10lbs) and in order to get to it i have to kneel on our line (unsanitary for one thing, and dangerous considering
    via u/cryoniccrown
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  • 08
    our line is on wheels) even still i have to reach above my head and be able to support this boxes weight as i lower it down without dropping it all over the food im trying to pack up i ended up getting a girl from out front to help me, hold the step stool stead and try to prevent the line from wiggling around. we managed to get it down safely thankfully, but i decided to bring it up to my boss anyways just cause... i never want to be put in that sitation again. well as you can see, this was the
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 09
    White Pinoy MOD Why is your company using discord to communicate? cryoniccrown OP our crew app is broken
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 10
    wandavrse the dress code comment was out of left field and the owner was deliberately trying to distract fom the actual problem you bought up.. get out of there boromeer3 I don't want to hear any more whining about the asbestos in the walls coming from somebody who parked their car touching the line between spots
    via u/cryoniccrown
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  • 11
    Avimox 14 hr. ago tell me these mfs not running a business with a discord group chat cryoniccrown OP 13 hr. ago to be fair we were using one of those company apps before but its been having issues so discord is just supposed to be a temporary thing in the meantime AA RandomNobody346 12 hr. ago Nothing is more permanent than a temporary solution.
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 12
    • Cultural_Double_422 14 hr. ago The owner jumping in at the end and trying to claim dress code violations are worse than safety concerns raised by an employee is probably going to them if they write you up or fire you. It's a clear attempt deflect their own failures, and to set you up. Even if those dress code violations are happening and cause an issue, bringing them up as a threat after a safety concern is voiced is blatant retaliation
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 13
    cryoniccrown OP 13 hr. ago whats weird to me is I have never been talked to about these apparent dress code issues I was told long pants and t-shirt when I was hired and thats what I wear. Ive worked in plenty of kitchens with a variety of strictness in terms of dress codes, from needing an actual chefs coat to black tshirt being fine. Ive heard rumors about dress code issues but Ive never been told what those issues are, nor was I sure if it was in regards to front of house or back of house sin
    via u/cryoniccrown
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  • 14
    as far as ive heard though her issue is us not wearing shirts with the company name on them. which... has not be provided to me, and also, definitely doesnt constitue a work place hazard. at least not one I can figure out.
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 15
    Tranquil_Pure 13 hr. ago "What's this? You're bringing up safety concerns? I'm going to retaliate by punishing you while deflecting" hmm
    via u/cryoniccrown
  • 16
    Wanda_McMimzy 12 hr. ago If you had your shirt tucked in and your name badge on, it wouldn't be a safety hazard to get the box down.
    via u/cryoniccrown
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