A Morrisons store manager with 29 years of service says he was dismissed for physically intervening with a shoplifter who spat at him. Sean Egan, 46, managed the company's Aldridge store near Walsall and was fired after a disciplinary hearing in December.
Mr Egan posted on LinkedIn that he was following company policy by calmly approaching and escorting the known prolific offender from the store. However, as they neared the exit, the shoplifter spat at him. 'In that moment, I reacted. Not as a manager. As a human being,' he wrote. He grabbed the man's arm to prevent him reaching into his bag, leading to an altercation.
The disciplinary board ruled that Mr Egan breached Morrisons' 'deter-and-not-detain' policy, which prioritises de-escalation and staff safety. Despite appealing, he lost his job. He told the BBC that the incident occurred during the busy Christmas period and that he had phoned police about the shoplifter.
Mr Egan said the dismissal has had a devastating impact: 'I wasn't able to buy my children Christmas presents. I’ve struggled to keep up with bills. I’ve been dealing with crippling anxiety.' His LinkedIn post went viral, prompting Chris Philp MP to call for his reinstatement, stating 'Retailers must support their staff who stand up against criminals.'
Morrisons defended its decision, saying in a statement: 'The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place... which must be strictly followed.'
