Company forces security guard to wear full uniform in a heat wave, faces consequences of his compliance: 'On a good day, it was 140°+ in the box'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Mar 23, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When it comes to the concerns of any company, employee safety should be pretty darn near the top of the list. You aren't going to be able to shake down your workers for every last ounce of productivity they have if you actively help them come to harm. Nonetheless, this doesn't stop some businesses from taking dangerous liberties with employee wellbeing. There are lawsuits waiting to happen almost everywhere if you care to look.

To nobody's surprise, those who work in the lowest-paid roles are often the most at risk for these kinds of unacceptable practices. If both companies and employees aren't careful, they can become cautionary tales against stupid management decisions and what happens when these orders are followed. In the worst scenarios, it can be somebody's life on the line because of unreasonable expectations as to what the working practices should be. The consequences are generally unpleasant ones.


 

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    Cheezburger Image 10483295744
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This is what one employee and his former company learned after they demanded he wear a stifling uniform for his full shift despite a heat wave bringing hugely uncomfortable working conditions. Doing as he was told had the consequences that anybody with common sense might expect, and he shared the tale with the internet.

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    420-
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    The work uniform is mandatory no matter what. Fine.

    This happened a few years ago, I no longer work with this company because this MC isn't the first time where I thought my personal health and safety was taking the backseat to the requirements of the company. I worked for a security company, my assignment was the vehicle depot lot for the gas company. My duties were to sit in an aluminum trailer shack in the corner of the lot and monitor for suspicious activity. In Philadelphia, many of these areas were targeted by catalytic converter thieves. I
    via DrD3adpool
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    Originally, I only wore the boiler suit and hardhat to do my patrols because it was July and the air conditioner in the box didn't work. However, my site supervisor came for inspection and threatened to fire me if I wouldn't wear the boiler suit and hardhat while sitting in the box as well. So I did. The end of July/beginning of August 2022 was one of the worst heat waves in Philadelphia history. On a good day, it was 140°+ in the box as it was made of aluminum and sitting in direct sunlight for
    via DrD3adpool
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    While I was getting lifesaving care at the hospital my "abandoned post" was infiltrated by three men who stole the catalytic converters from 18 vehicles. The parent company was LIVID and when I was inquired as to why I wasn't at my post when the theft occurred, my doctor at the hospital took the phone and informed them of my condition upon arrival at the hospital. In the aftermath, I was reassigned. The broken air conditioner in the box was replaced by a 40,000 BTU unit that required a separate
    via DrD3adpool
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    Commenters were horrified that he had been subjected to this.

    Alternative-Golf8281 Have you sued for a workman's comp case for any residual damages to your physical health? I feel like that would get closer to malicious that some of the commenters are thirsting for
    via Alternative-Golf8281
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    DrD3adpool OP Actually my work gave me an almost $4000 bonus not to sue after finding out how close I was to d ng.
    via DrD3adpool
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    sylvar Jesus Christ, I'm happy you survived that!
    via sylvar
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    Waffenek This is not malicious. You just complied and almost d d as the result. I assure you that to your company loosing one client have lesser impact compared to things that you risked by endangering yours life and health.
    via Waffenek
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    DrD3adpool OP I was (and still am) homeless, and keeping this job was maintaining my bed in a shelter. I didn't want to go back to sleeping on the street so I complied.
    via DrD3adpool
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    Xanderak Cat thieves have another aluminum box across the street, where they watch for lapses in security.
    via Xanderak
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    spiderdue I read all the way to "the air conditioner didn't work..." and my mind heard a record scratch. I'll continue reading.
    via spiderdue
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    530 Oldschoolgeek I would have had OSHA and an employment attorney on the phone while I was in the hospital. I sincerely hope this disgrace of a firm didn't try to object to the workers comp I hope you filed for the ambulance/hospitalization.
    via 530_Oldschoolgeek
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    CoderJoe1 Good story, but this seems like compliance only, not MC.
    via CoderJoe1
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    Cheezburger Image 10483372544
    via justaman_097
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    Neo_nakama glad you left
    via Neo_nakama
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    BangBang MeatMachine I'm really sorry you were put in such a dangerous situation. I hope you find the stability and self-esteem needed to be able to stand up to idiocy like this in the future. And hopefully you can go into future situations armed with this experience, so when an employer asks you to do something that puts your life in danger, you can raise the issue to HR and openly discuss the risks, in writing, forcing them to either create a paper trail that puts them on the hook for a major
    via BangBangMeatMachine
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    southsoundsailor Jeezus! I hope this was a workers comp claim - airlift alone could bankrupt the company.
    via southsoundsailor
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    Emphatically Wrong I would have two fans and an ice pack around my neck if I was working somewhere that hot. The hat indoors is a stupid request by the boss
    via EmphaticallyWrong
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    DistinctBook I buddy of mine drove a propane forklift in a enclosed warehouse. He would come home with these really bad headaches. One night it was so bad his wife took him to the ER. The carbon monoxide level in his bl d was through the roof.
    via DistinctBook

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uniform malicious compliance work reddit thread Reddit security hot heat wave security guard
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