US Bank’s Mistake Leaves Guy Broke On Christmas So This Kind Employee Helps Him Out, Gets Fired For It
A US Bank employee in Portland was fired for doing a random act of kindness for a stranger on Christmas Eve, and people all over the US are appalled that helping someone is considered an “unauthorized interaction.”
Emily James, a Portland call center employee, happened to be speaking to a customer from a suburb of the same city who was experiencing a problem with the bank not allowing him access to his paycheck. The customer contacted her again after trying to go to his regional branch, where the only manager who could lift the restriction had already gone home for the holidays, and ending up stranded with no money to even put gas in his car.
Moved by the opportunity to help somebody who was so nearby, and on Christmas Eve, at that, James met up with the customer and gave him $20 out of her pocket. She thought what she had done was her business and would have no bearing on her job, but word got back to a regional manager and she was sent home days later.
Local news reports say that a US Bank employee was fired for helping a customer
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
Image credits: Oregonian
James told local news that she initially went public with the story to get her job back, but that she’s changed her mind about returning to the company that fired her for what she maintains was the right thing to do. The manager’s decision certainly doesn’t seem to align with one of the company’s core values, “We put people first.”
This isn’t the first time that employees have been punished for breaking protocol to do good deeds for others. Last year saw incidents in which workers at a Seattle coffee chain were fired for giving homeless people coffee dregs and old pastries that were edible but no longer fresh enough to display, and a school cafeteria worker lost her job after giving a free meal to a teenager with no lunch money.
Commenters are disgusted but not surprised by this kind of cruelty
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Share on FacebookI'm going to print out copies of this article an post them on the doors of the local US Bank offices. I know, they'll probably be pulled down immediately, but if just one customer sees this, and closes their account, it will have been worth it.
I think that is an awesome idea, Karen. This bank deserves to lose some customers.
Load More Replies...I dont understand, she got permission from her supervisor, so why is she fired? Isnt that what asking permission is about, that you cover your a*s so you dont get fired over these kind of things?
From experience in similar corporate work, I believe the problem is the personal interaction outside of the call centre. While her intentions were 100% good, the rules are in place to ensure that a client's details remain private & are not used by staff for personal reasons. It's about ensuring the client's confidentiality / privacy.
Load More Replies...Only in America. In Europe the bank wouldn't even think of firing someone because of this reason. Not because they have higher morals, but because it would be against the labor laws.
I found that some banks are actually super helpful. I was living abroad for a time and my card's chip went bust, meaning I couldn't access my money. I just went in to ask what I need to do as I had no photo ID on me and they were like it'll take up to a week to release your new card, we can't have you without any money, I can sign off on £100 for you?
Load More Replies...There should be someone at the bank with power to do whatever is needed every minute the bank is open. There is no excuse for a customer to be there and no one to do what was needed. I think she said the branch manager was on vacation. So no one does his or her job while they are away? Ridiculous.
I have a bunch of health problems that make it difficult to work but I still try my hardest. A few years ago, I was working in a hospital two and a half hours away from my house. During my time there, I became very ill and lost four stone in a month. Everyone noticed but I still struggled into work. I'd like to point out that I explained all of my existing health problems and they employed me anyway. Even when I was in so much pain I needed to use my cane, I still made the long commute at 5am. On Christmas Eve, I had a meeting with my managers and HR. They asked when I would no longer be ill, which I couldn't answer. So they fired me. On Christmas Eve. They couldn't even wait a few days. As I left the meeting, I said "merry Christmas" and they just stared at the floor, saying nothing.
That's pretty sad. They knew you were ill and hired you anyway and because you couldn't stop being ill they fired you. You deserved better treatment, especially because of your commute.
Load More Replies...This is what happens when profit means more than people. Also why I have an account at a credit union.
How is this even legal?? Isn't it her decision what she does with her money in her own time? I find this story hard to belive. It says 'local news' so who knows what really happened.
ROFL, I have to ask, does "local news" have less bearing than "national news" or "International news"? The reality here is that any news agency will report it in the best way to get viewers, at least within the laws of their governing country. In the USA that means that they are allowed to point blank lie if they feel like it. But, local news is likely to get a more sensational response from those affected since they live in the area, so it is likely to have been reported sooner than those with larger customer bases would have, giving more time for the full story to be found out.
Load More Replies...As I read through the article, I was considering that while her firing is awful and tragic and undeserved, leaving the premises while on the clock to do this isn't exactly kosher... and perhaps there is a case to be made for US Bank's actions. But screw that. And screw US Bank. I've never used them, and based on my parents' perpetual difficulty with them and this story, I'm saying right now that I NEVER WILL.
What, you never took your lunch break off property? She got the OK from her supervisor to take what was most likely her lunch break to drive a few minutes to give some gas money—-out of her own, and not the bank’s, pocket—-to a customer who had been given a 24 hour marathon runaround trying to access their own damn money, and was now broke, out of gas, and stranded because of it. On Christmas effing Eve! Her lunch break, her time, her car, her money, her choice. USBank deserves to be obliterated by the tidal wave of bad karma that’s coming for it.
Load More Replies...Soooo Sad... It SHOULD have had an impact on her job. A POSITIVE IMPACT! An awesome example of THE GOLDEN RULE and going the extra mile. Just imagine a world in which people saw doing the right thing THE ONLY THING. A definite Utopia.
I am sitting here reading this post with my jaw on the floor... What does the labour law say?
The name “labor laws” should be changed to “management laws”, since that’s who they’re geared toward these days. But it’s election year, so let’s hope some long overdue positive changes are coming.
Load More Replies...“How dare you provide our customers with excellent customer service!?!?!?” - US Bank
No American needs to have a bank account, especially after the 2008 scandal. Banks are crooks and thieves. Switch to a reputable credit union where you can bank online with no fees.
I use PayPal a lot these days. The problem with PayPal is they charge a lot to use them and they won’t let you transfer sums greater than like $10,000. I also use a local bank and it’s not that good either. I had a credit union and they didn’t seem any better. I was broke then and I had so many overdraft fees there. And it was SOOOOO inconvenient because credit unions have limited locations compared to big banks. Of every bank I’ve ever used, Bank of America was easily the best of them all. Sounds unlikely, but that’s my experience.
Load More Replies...One of the trashiest things about this is that the bank itself was withholding HIS OWN MONEY. Even if the banker didn’t get fired, this is still disgusting. It was HIS MONEY. They have no right to hold it from him. One time something similar happened to me with Bank of America, and it was during Hurricane Florence. They just credited me $100 until my checks weren’t pending anymore. I paid it back once the checks cleared. Bank of America isn’t a great company, but a bank you share your money with should be willing to do small favors when you’re in a bind.
They fired the wrong person. hat regional manager and that bank manager would be gonzo.
They could have had a great positive advertising campaign FOR FREE and he screwed it up and ended in a negative campaign, what an idiot.
I have never had this issue with my bank and don't understand why this was allowed to happen. First off, the person who could do something about his money was on vacation and they didn't have a substitute. Second off, they essentially shooed him out the door and locked it behind him. Third off, it was her own money and she had gotten the manager's permission to leave. This woman was trying to be helpful and got in trouble for it. I hope she finds a better job with better pay.
The only reasoning I can see that US Bank has for any of this is that the interaction took place over the call center lines while she was at work and it would be a violation of privacy laws to get personally involved with a customer. It also creates an atmosphere where other customers may call up expecting special treatment in these situations because a previous customer got it. That being said, I hate US Bank. They practically charge you for the air you breathe in their banks and their attitude is "Your money is our money and our money is our money." Or like Thunderdome "Two dollars enter but only one dollar leaves." Go to a Credit Union..they care. I hope other banks read this and hire her.
This reminds me of my experience . I'm in Australia, & struggled after the birth of my second child. It was 2009, I had been through a traumatic experience after the sudden death of my father, and 3 months later a fire ripped through nearby towns killing 173 ppl, leaving us shell shocked. We moved from the area after my landlord had to take possession of his investment property due to loss of his home. I got a call not long afterwards, my annual ambulance insurance had lapsed, they wanted to know why. I didn't go into detail, just explained I couldn't afford it. The call centre employee said, "but you have kids". There was nothing I could do. Later that night she called again, she said she had decided to pay my insurance for me, that she wasn't religious, but she felt a higher presence was calling for her to do it. I thanked her profusely, cried, told her it wasn't necessary; she did it anyway, but begged me not to tell the company as she would be fired. I never knew her name.
We needed that insurance shortly afterwards. An ambulance had to be called. That unknown call centre employee literally saved us $1000's.
Load More Replies...Someone was most likely asleep on the PR lecture... That's so ridicules..
Dude this doesn't even remotely make sense. That place should be proud they have an employee that caring. Some companies truly suck.
That's the problem with shithole companies... They think they do not have employees but having slaves...
Does anyone realize what world we live in??? John 18:36....read it as a reminder....
I'm going to print out copies of this article an post them on the doors of the local US Bank offices. I know, they'll probably be pulled down immediately, but if just one customer sees this, and closes their account, it will have been worth it.
I think that is an awesome idea, Karen. This bank deserves to lose some customers.
Load More Replies...I dont understand, she got permission from her supervisor, so why is she fired? Isnt that what asking permission is about, that you cover your a*s so you dont get fired over these kind of things?
From experience in similar corporate work, I believe the problem is the personal interaction outside of the call centre. While her intentions were 100% good, the rules are in place to ensure that a client's details remain private & are not used by staff for personal reasons. It's about ensuring the client's confidentiality / privacy.
Load More Replies...Only in America. In Europe the bank wouldn't even think of firing someone because of this reason. Not because they have higher morals, but because it would be against the labor laws.
I found that some banks are actually super helpful. I was living abroad for a time and my card's chip went bust, meaning I couldn't access my money. I just went in to ask what I need to do as I had no photo ID on me and they were like it'll take up to a week to release your new card, we can't have you without any money, I can sign off on £100 for you?
Load More Replies...There should be someone at the bank with power to do whatever is needed every minute the bank is open. There is no excuse for a customer to be there and no one to do what was needed. I think she said the branch manager was on vacation. So no one does his or her job while they are away? Ridiculous.
I have a bunch of health problems that make it difficult to work but I still try my hardest. A few years ago, I was working in a hospital two and a half hours away from my house. During my time there, I became very ill and lost four stone in a month. Everyone noticed but I still struggled into work. I'd like to point out that I explained all of my existing health problems and they employed me anyway. Even when I was in so much pain I needed to use my cane, I still made the long commute at 5am. On Christmas Eve, I had a meeting with my managers and HR. They asked when I would no longer be ill, which I couldn't answer. So they fired me. On Christmas Eve. They couldn't even wait a few days. As I left the meeting, I said "merry Christmas" and they just stared at the floor, saying nothing.
That's pretty sad. They knew you were ill and hired you anyway and because you couldn't stop being ill they fired you. You deserved better treatment, especially because of your commute.
Load More Replies...This is what happens when profit means more than people. Also why I have an account at a credit union.
How is this even legal?? Isn't it her decision what she does with her money in her own time? I find this story hard to belive. It says 'local news' so who knows what really happened.
ROFL, I have to ask, does "local news" have less bearing than "national news" or "International news"? The reality here is that any news agency will report it in the best way to get viewers, at least within the laws of their governing country. In the USA that means that they are allowed to point blank lie if they feel like it. But, local news is likely to get a more sensational response from those affected since they live in the area, so it is likely to have been reported sooner than those with larger customer bases would have, giving more time for the full story to be found out.
Load More Replies...As I read through the article, I was considering that while her firing is awful and tragic and undeserved, leaving the premises while on the clock to do this isn't exactly kosher... and perhaps there is a case to be made for US Bank's actions. But screw that. And screw US Bank. I've never used them, and based on my parents' perpetual difficulty with them and this story, I'm saying right now that I NEVER WILL.
What, you never took your lunch break off property? She got the OK from her supervisor to take what was most likely her lunch break to drive a few minutes to give some gas money—-out of her own, and not the bank’s, pocket—-to a customer who had been given a 24 hour marathon runaround trying to access their own damn money, and was now broke, out of gas, and stranded because of it. On Christmas effing Eve! Her lunch break, her time, her car, her money, her choice. USBank deserves to be obliterated by the tidal wave of bad karma that’s coming for it.
Load More Replies...Soooo Sad... It SHOULD have had an impact on her job. A POSITIVE IMPACT! An awesome example of THE GOLDEN RULE and going the extra mile. Just imagine a world in which people saw doing the right thing THE ONLY THING. A definite Utopia.
I am sitting here reading this post with my jaw on the floor... What does the labour law say?
The name “labor laws” should be changed to “management laws”, since that’s who they’re geared toward these days. But it’s election year, so let’s hope some long overdue positive changes are coming.
Load More Replies...“How dare you provide our customers with excellent customer service!?!?!?” - US Bank
No American needs to have a bank account, especially after the 2008 scandal. Banks are crooks and thieves. Switch to a reputable credit union where you can bank online with no fees.
I use PayPal a lot these days. The problem with PayPal is they charge a lot to use them and they won’t let you transfer sums greater than like $10,000. I also use a local bank and it’s not that good either. I had a credit union and they didn’t seem any better. I was broke then and I had so many overdraft fees there. And it was SOOOOO inconvenient because credit unions have limited locations compared to big banks. Of every bank I’ve ever used, Bank of America was easily the best of them all. Sounds unlikely, but that’s my experience.
Load More Replies...One of the trashiest things about this is that the bank itself was withholding HIS OWN MONEY. Even if the banker didn’t get fired, this is still disgusting. It was HIS MONEY. They have no right to hold it from him. One time something similar happened to me with Bank of America, and it was during Hurricane Florence. They just credited me $100 until my checks weren’t pending anymore. I paid it back once the checks cleared. Bank of America isn’t a great company, but a bank you share your money with should be willing to do small favors when you’re in a bind.
They fired the wrong person. hat regional manager and that bank manager would be gonzo.
They could have had a great positive advertising campaign FOR FREE and he screwed it up and ended in a negative campaign, what an idiot.
I have never had this issue with my bank and don't understand why this was allowed to happen. First off, the person who could do something about his money was on vacation and they didn't have a substitute. Second off, they essentially shooed him out the door and locked it behind him. Third off, it was her own money and she had gotten the manager's permission to leave. This woman was trying to be helpful and got in trouble for it. I hope she finds a better job with better pay.
The only reasoning I can see that US Bank has for any of this is that the interaction took place over the call center lines while she was at work and it would be a violation of privacy laws to get personally involved with a customer. It also creates an atmosphere where other customers may call up expecting special treatment in these situations because a previous customer got it. That being said, I hate US Bank. They practically charge you for the air you breathe in their banks and their attitude is "Your money is our money and our money is our money." Or like Thunderdome "Two dollars enter but only one dollar leaves." Go to a Credit Union..they care. I hope other banks read this and hire her.
This reminds me of my experience . I'm in Australia, & struggled after the birth of my second child. It was 2009, I had been through a traumatic experience after the sudden death of my father, and 3 months later a fire ripped through nearby towns killing 173 ppl, leaving us shell shocked. We moved from the area after my landlord had to take possession of his investment property due to loss of his home. I got a call not long afterwards, my annual ambulance insurance had lapsed, they wanted to know why. I didn't go into detail, just explained I couldn't afford it. The call centre employee said, "but you have kids". There was nothing I could do. Later that night she called again, she said she had decided to pay my insurance for me, that she wasn't religious, but she felt a higher presence was calling for her to do it. I thanked her profusely, cried, told her it wasn't necessary; she did it anyway, but begged me not to tell the company as she would be fired. I never knew her name.
We needed that insurance shortly afterwards. An ambulance had to be called. That unknown call centre employee literally saved us $1000's.
Load More Replies...Someone was most likely asleep on the PR lecture... That's so ridicules..
Dude this doesn't even remotely make sense. That place should be proud they have an employee that caring. Some companies truly suck.
That's the problem with shithole companies... They think they do not have employees but having slaves...
Does anyone realize what world we live in??? John 18:36....read it as a reminder....
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