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Co-op supervisor, 60, sacked after 23 years service for giving customer dying flowers for free
Last updated at 01:52am on 26.04.08A supermarket worker who let a customer have a bunch of dying flowers for free has paid with her job.
Mary Whitner, who had worked for the Co-op for 23 years, was told to quit or face the sack for giving away wilting carnations that were destined for the bin.
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Ultimatum: Mary Whitner was told to leave quietly or face the sack
The trouble started when a shopper tried to buy a bunch that was two days out of date.
"The lady is a really good customer, and was very upset when I said we had to throw the flowers in the bin," Mrs Whitner said.
"It's standard Co-op procedure. But she really wanted them to go with the other three bunches she was buying, so I removed the barcode and let her have them.
"They would only have gone to waste."
Mrs Whitner, 59, who was due to retire within days but had hoped to work on, said she was summoned to the boss's office and told to resign or be sacked.
The flowers, originally priced at £2.99, had been marked down to 75p before being earmarked for the bin.
Widower Ms Whitner, however, had not counted on another member of staff, whose identity is not known, informing bosses of her actions.
Ms Whitner was summoned by Co-op bosses after giving a customer a bunch of dying flowers destined for the dustbin (file picture)
She said: "I'm being treated like a thief. It was a bunch of dead flowers and a very loyal customer, but the HR department in Leeds called me up and told me to jump or be pushed. That's exactly what they told me."
The customer in question, Tricia Skinner, 54, has written to Co-op bosses demanding Mary be re-instated.
She said: "Mary is one of the most honest people I know. She has been the backbone of that store for a very long time - in fact 23 years. I think it's appalling the way she has been treated.
"It's absolutely disgusting, over a bunch of out-of-date flowers."
Other Co-op shoppers have also backed Mary and a petition is being set up to get her back.
Regular customer James Moy said: "Mrs Whitner was always cheerful, honest and very popular with all the customers.
She has been the victim of a gross injustice."
Mary, who is devastated by the loss of her job, says she received no verbal or written warning. Given a chance, she said she would have worked - on limited hours - beyond her retirement.
Now, she is facing a gloomy 60th birthday.
She said: "I love the customers to pieces and I love the job."
Customers at the store in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, including the woman who was given the flowers, are demanding Mrs Whitner be reinstated.
A Co-op spokesman said: "It is Co-operative Group policy not to discuss individual staff members publicly.
"However, I will add that in all staff matters, there are strict HR policies, agreed with relevant unions, that are adhered to by local management and HR personnel."
Reader views (53)
I am Mary Whitners daughter and I cannot believe the way the co-op treated me after 23yrs loyal service, she opened the shop every morn as the managers don't want to get out of bed, she got up in the middle of the night if the alarms went off and waited for the alarm company to come out, all this plus loyal service for nothing!
All mum wants is an apology and the 2 weeks money she is now owed which was not in her wages as expected and she will let it drop, not much to ask is it? Seems the co-op just are beyond caring it seems.
- Trudie Whitner, Southampton, UK
I hope the person who reported her is feeling proud of him/herself.
- Marc, Cumbria
I do not believe it - yet again what shock, what horror to find out that someone who had been a loyal hard-working part of the company now has been removed. My goodness - that she should ever do that again... cynically speaking maybe the management just want her out of the way. It is pathetic that any Board member should even allow this to happen - they should make her MD - she would obviously be a great deal more faithful than she is getting herself. Shame on the whole of the Board, but worse -shame on whomever reported her.
- Elizabeth Taylor, Dallas TX
I hope that Mrs Whitner moves on and enjoys her early retirement knowing that the vast majority of people are behind her.
Have a long and happy retirement Mrs Whitner.
- Les, Essex, Uk
Unbelievable!
The Management should be sacked, not the loyal employee.
Shoppers should boycott the Burgess Hill branch immediately.
- Sally, London UK
I used to use the local Co-oP as I liked their rather more principled stance on products, finance etc. Not any more. That is absolutely disgusting treatment, and I suspect has more to do with personalities in the store than any HR edict.
- Iain, Oxford
Maybe it is Co-op's way of getting out of giving her a retirement clock? Cheeky so and so's!
- Smb, UK
This is a quote from the Co-op 's own website:
"Co-operatives are structured so that members have democratic control, with equal rights and benefits. At The Co‑operative Group we treat each other as we would like to be treated ourselves, supporting one another as well as other co-operatives."
I guess the HR Managers didn't bother to read that bit! They are the ones who should go.
- Miranda, London
Nu-labour mentality.
- Marian, London, NW1
Perhaps "all Co-op shoppers across Britain" should now shop elsewhere so that the Co-op managers & directors can also lose their jobs (because with "no customers" there will be no need to retain their services)!
I'm certain that Mrs Whitner did not need this extra stress. Clearly the Co-op has a particularly odd manner for rewarding "loyal employees" with 23 years of service! I recommend everyone simply shop elsewhere in future and... Good bye Co-Op!
- Fraser, Telford Park
"Hardly 'a crime', Simon?- Paul, London"
Paul, what do you call someone who gives away property that does not belong to them? Would it be ok for Tesco checkout staff to give someone a bag of shopping for nothing. How about if it was some civil servant who found some unused money and gave it away to someone? not a crime either.
I think its a crime that you didn't read the rest of my post.
- Simon Payton, London, UK
My suspicion is that they had been watching her every move as they knew she were drawing closer to her retirement, so that any little mistake or wrongdoing they picked up on, could be used as an excuse to dismiss her, hence not having to fork out her pension. What a load of nonsense, 23 years of service she gave them - that’s gratitude for you. I’d sue them, get my compensation and give them the middle finger.
- Michelle Haughton, London
What is going on, customer service does not appears to be on the Co-ops agenda. As for their HR, what an appalling attitude.
- Malcolm, France
How about, as well as having your say here, using the "Contact Us" page on the Co-Op website?
I used to work in retail at a time when trust and common sense were seen as admirable. This I find saddening, but then some idiot has issued a fine because a little girl dropped a small piece of food, as children sometimes do, so not at all surprising.
- Md, London
Always shopped at coop for there stance on fare trade seem there staff don't get the same help. Sorry coop of my shopping list now very poor service towards there staff.
- Graham Vaines, Yorkshire
Human resources? Human remains.
- Annabelle, London
Hardly 'a crime', Simon?
- Paul, London
My old bank manager, when giving me a huge overdraft in breach of his bank's regulations, told me, "Rules are for fools and the guidance of wise men." The key word was guidance. My bank manager trusted me to pay it back. I did.
Mary Whitner's manager should have seen that she had done a good deed and ensured the loyalty of a valued customer at a cost of a few pennies. Instead, the manager, by following rules inflexibly, has alienated thousands of customers about the country and cost the Co-op a small fortune. The best thing to do now is to reinstate Mrs Whitner and make couple of new rules - don't be inflexible and don't be stupid.
- Kennykoala, Brighton, East Sussex
Aren’t you all being a bit hypocritical, you are calling the person who told the manager about this a grass and basically saying that they are a lowlife. Yet from the comments that I normally read here everyday, this is exactly the sort of thing most of you want people to do in normal situations when they see a crime being committed. Or is this an animal farm moment where some crimes are more equal than others.
Saying that I do agree that it was a bit harsh for the management to sack this woman, and I think what they should have done was congratulated or even better said nothing at all. I also thought the same thing as Louise, Essex, that it seems strange that they should take such drastic action on the eve of her retirement. Don't they want to pay her pension, but then again she is not an African farmer and is not deserving of any fair trade sympathy.
- Simon Payton, London, UK
Well if that is the way they treat their own dedicated long serving employees then imagine how they treat their customers?
Gosh the 40£ a week I spend at my local Co-op on Uxbridge Road will now be going to another company. so much for the Co-op being a "caring community supermarket"! shame on the Co-op group!
- Phil, London
Co-ops are grotty little shops anyway and I shall not set foot in one again. There are a lot of nasty people in this world. I was sacked from my job many years ago after 10 loyal years of service in local government because I spoke up about bullying which this is a form of. I hope this lady has a long and happy retirement.
- Monica, UK
Take em to a tribunal.
- N Grinsell, london
Just goes to show you don't have to work in the public sector to have a petty 'rules is rules' mentality.
- Ben, Brussels
it isn't such an issue when staff re-label out of date meat, and sell it at full price to customers. In fact they probably get the sack if they don't do so.
The supermarket just want, your money. Customer satisfaction is never taken in consideration.
My guess is the grass is being promoted.
Shame on them, as they are probably depriving her of a full pension in the process.
- Lauren, London Uk
That's no surprise. These shops are ruthless when it comes to giving away shop merchandise for free. I was once sacked for giving a candy to a crying child by a well known toy store.
Good luck to her for the future..
- Forbes, lLndon
Joe what you say is so true. Why is it these days we are so bogged down with stupid unbreakable rules that common sense, and therefore kindly acts, are forbidden. I hope all the customers boycott that store. I'm sure Mary that someone in your area will see this news and offer you a fabulous job on the spot, to work in the sort of store who appreciates your service and knows golden delicious when they see one!
- Rachel Dyer, London
Similar to a Pret a manger near me...they used to give away left over sandwiches and pastries at the end of the day to the homeless but were prohibited to do so due to health and safety! (they now put it out in clear bags...so hopefully it still doesn't go to waste)
I used to work for a food distributor, we used to try to give away whole hams, cheeses etc that expired on that day or were say 1 day past its sell by date (and therefore obviously cannot be sold) to soup kitchens but they wouldn't accept it again for fear of breaking health & safety regulations, dumb!
- Mt, London
There is a new Co-Op just opened in Bucks - Re-Instate this lady with a big apology or I will advise all my friends to shop at Spar!
- Gary, wycombe
We need these Co-Op managers to be sacked immediately, and then given new jobs as high court judges. Maybe then we would actually see criminals treated as criminals.
I hope Mary did not resign, the article does not make it clear whether she was sacked or resigned. She should sue the backside off them, and would it not be poetic if all that stores customers shopped elsewhere. If the footfall through the door dropped to zero, maybe the managers will ask for a transfusion of common sense and compassion.
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester
I for one will boycott this petty little company. Frankly, they don't deserve to be in business with such a lack of common sense it and humanity.
- Farooq, London
HR are the toxic veneer of business, they cannot get jobs doing anything else as they are insecure and lack basic skills in ethics or morals. HR you work for the Co-Op..Cooperative? Get it? Fall on your own sword! Hope any industrial tribunal fines them very hard. Good ethics at the Coop, sad day indeed!
- Hawkins, Dorset
What the hell is happening in Britain. How can a sixty year old women with twenty three years of loyal service be treated this way. And what is going to happen to the disloyal snitch..a promotion no doubt.
- Charliegreenwell, Ottawa Canada
All companies have policies and rely on intelligent, commen-sensical interpretation of the rules - not on the blind imposition of them. The Co-op prides itself on ethical policies and serving the community. This episode must throw into doubt both. A company that cannot interpret policies reasonably and justly cannot then try and take the moral high ground on other issues - otherwise it just looks hypocritical. So, is the Co-op's so called "ethical policies" just another form of spin? It certainly sounds like it.
- Anita, London
Looks like one of the strict HR rules is to leap on a chance to get rid of someone who might be entitled to retirement benefits too.
But, that has often been the with the (un)Co-op people, hasn't it!
- Rogan, DFW Texas
So that is how the Co-Op rewards their staff. I sure hope they are repaid in kind. What a bunch, snitches and narrow minded bean counters.
- Alan, Key West , USA
After reading this story, the Co-op has just lost at least 5 more customers. Also, I do believe that Mary has a very good case to take the matter to an industrial tribunal as the national agreed policy on disciplinary matters does not appear to have been followed. A substantial compensation amount for incorrect dismissal, abuse of procedures and authority and even more bad publicity for the Co-op. No doubt the anonymous informant has been suitably rewarded (Mary's old job) and the HR nitwit can show that all the relevant boxes have been ticked.
- David, Camberley, Surrey
She must Take the co-op to an industrial tribunal.
The jobs-worth manager who sacked is a pratt.
- Mick Jack, wellingborough uk
I for one will never shop at a Co-Op store again, unless this thoughtful woman is given her job back!
- John, London
What a dumb organisation!
- Brian, Bristol
The action of Mary giving the flowers to the customer instead of throwing them out is one of those few kind acts people seem to do less and less these days I'm sure the customer had a warm and happy feeling receiving those flowers, as did Mary in giving them. Like a pebble in a pond that moment is one which inspires people who hear the story to stop a minute and think about doing something nice for someone. The store really made a huge mistake, the person who should have been fired is the one who reported that she gave away trash. That person is a bad apple, and one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch, no matter what the song says.
- Joe, Dallas, TX
Suzanne is absolutely right. Co-op have spectacularly scored a very damaging own-goal.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
If you get your job back, Mary, be very careful of the snake in the grass who reported you for giving the flowers to the loyal customer.....what kind of mean-spirited individual is that? Hope they're finding it hard to sleep at night, whoever they are. I hope somebody else offers Mary a better job in a place with nicer colleagues who have some common sense.
- Carol, London U.K.
What a disgrace. The staff member who grassed her up should be named and shamed on this site - someone must know who it is?
- Lady Ashfordly, London, England
Oops. An opportunity for good PR turned into bad PR.
- Suzanne, London
The Co-op job advert should read." those with initiative and ability to resolve issues at local level need not apply". I hope the boycott suggestion (if only for a time) will teach the 'suits' a lesson....yet again.
- Michael Murphy, Brightlingsea, England
Maybe the Co-op should rethink its advert. “Being Ethical” “Good for everyone” The person in HR seems to have missed the point and should be sent on a course if that’s the way they speak and treat loyal service. The whole point of supervisor is to take responsibility and help customers or are we asking too much. Give Mary her job back!
- Margaret, London
I hope the grass is good and happy. It's ridiculous - I hope the locals boycott the shop entirely.
- Paul, London
Is this the Co-op ? The ethical store ? The store who dislike waste ? What an appalling way to treat a loyal staff member, and a loyal customer. They must re-instate her now or I will never use the store again !!
- Sandra, London
I'd rather have her working in my shop than the wretch that grassed her up. What a lowlife.
- Squiz, Islington
These people sound like prime candidates for Broon's public service, where 'policies' take precedence over common sense and good customer relations
- Mike, Canada
That's appalling. I hope the co-op's customers vote with their feet and shop elsewhere until this is resolved in Mary's favour.
- Geraldine, London, UK
How many years loyal service do the co-op expect to get from the Quisling?
- Emily, London
Very interesting that they did this to this lady just days before she's due to retire. I assume being fired or resigning would have an impact on her pension payment from them? Just a thought.
- Louise, Essex
