Posted on March 1, 2021 at 20:45 by West Sider
An employee at Trader Joe’s on Columbus Avenue and 93rd Street said he was fired after asking the store to add security measures to keep Covid-19 employees and customers safe.
Employee Ben Bonemma posted a letter on Twitter that he said he sent to Trader Joe’s CEO, claiming he was fired because of it.
Trader Joe just fired me for sending this letter to the CEO, saying that I don’t share the company’s values. I think that defending a safer workplace is not a value for the company? pic.twitter.com/3TKi5B8HSJ
– Ben Bonnema (@BenBonnema) February 26, 2021
The letter asks Trader Joe’s to add better filters to the store, limit the store’s capacity based on carbon dioxide levels and do not allow people to enter if they refuse to wear masks. If people do not cooperate, they should be hit three times and then be thrown out, he wrote. He wrote that he had received screams from a customer who was not wearing his mask correctly.
Bonnema then posted a letter of termination that he says he got from the store, on Trader Joe’s letterhead. The letter cited his suggestion to institute a “3 strokes” rule as “not in line with our core values”.
“Of course, you don’t understand our Values. As a result, we are no longer comfortable with you working for Trader Joe’s. “
here’s the letter they gave me pic.twitter.com/BeYmopbmJ3
– Ben Bonnema (@BenBonnema) February 26, 2021
There was another report on safety issues among the crew members at this store. Bonnema wrote that he supports Trader Joe’s union for reasons like this.
Bonnema posted answers from scientists who say their suggestions are good.
A company spokesman, however, wrote to the West Side Rag that Bonnema was not fired because of the letter.
“Thank you for the opportunity to correct some incorrect information that is circulating on the Internet about the circumstances of the employment of this Crew Member at Trader Joe’s. Nothing is more important at Trader Joe’s than the safety of our crew members and customers. We encourage all crew members to take an active role in the safety of the store and share their suggestions with the leadership. During his short tenure at Trader Joe’s, this crew member’s suggestions were heard and properly dealt with. The store leadership dismissed the employment of this crew member because of the disrespect he showed our customers. We never terminate a crew member’s employment contract for raising safety concerns. “
Bonnema, however, also posted a positive performance review on Twitter, Buzzfeed noted. And he hired a lawyer who plans to take his case to the National Council for Labor Relations.
A customer at this Trader Joe store shared with us a letter that he also sent to the company’s CEO, Dan Bane.
Hi Mr. Bane,
I write to you as a concerned regular customer at Trader Joe’s Store 545 on the Upper West Side of New York. Buying at Trader Joe’s gives me regular access to high quality products at an affordable price. I came to see Trader Joe’s not just as an admirable company, but as a member of my community that contributes to our neighborhood in a meaningful way.
I was shocked and disappointed to hear the news that his company decided to fire Ben Bonnema for sharing concerns and offering viable solutions to improve the health of his teammates and customers. I hope you will use this as a time of learning with your management team and an opportunity to lead the business community, setting a strong example of the right way to respond to this ongoing crisis.
You can do it:
- Adopting its fundamental value of integrity publicly apologizing to Mr. Bonnema, his Crew Mates and his customers for the actions of their management team and committing themselves once again to the safety of their stores and a fair and equitable workplace. Then, re-hire Mr. Bonnema according to his previous salary, providing a cash bonus to supplement any loss of income resulting from this unfortunate incident. By taking these actions, you will show that Trader Joe’s commitment to its customers and employees is unparalleled. Customers looking over your shoulder will smile and say thank you.
- Embracing your core Kaizen value providing a special bonus or compliment to employees who provide actionable concerns and suggestions to improve the safety of the client and Crew Mate during the pandemic. By listening to these concerns and responding to them, you will increase your customers’ loyalty, the commitment of Crew Mates and establish a positive role model in the business community. You will show that you really work together as a team leader, not just the head of a company.
- Embrace your core value of engaging with the neighborhood making Store 545 the first Trader Joe to adopt the safety precautions implicit and suggested by Mr. Bonnema in his letter (which is copied below for easy reference). With this action, you can assure the Upper West Side that your company maintains its commitment to making our neighborhood better and that its stores are a strong member of our community.
I beg you to stand up as a leader in the business community. Your company is better than that. You are better than that. The world is watching and you can choose to lead or be another dark story in difficult times.
I hope you choose to lead.
Sincerely,
Dustin Shay
Longtime client of Trader Joe’s and resident of the Upper West Side