Black Home Depot Employee Fired Because He Retorted to a Customer's Racist Rant

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Root

Breanna Edwards
Today 12:24pm



Maurice Rucker
Screenshot: WNYT

This is America...where, if you are an employee at Home Depot, you’re apparently expected to take repeated verbal abuse from a customer without verbally responding, however calmly, yourself.

Maurice Rucker, 60, lost his job at an Albany, N.Y., Home Depot after he said he was subjected to racist verbal abuse, which he said was unlike anything he’s ever experienced. The fall out has left him shocked, WNYT reports.

Rucker said the incident all started last Thursday when a customer approached checkout with an unleashed dog.

“I said to him, ‘Sir, when you have your dog in here we prefer that you keep it on a leash.’” He turned around and said, ‘Fuck you. You’re an asshole you’re a piece of shit,’” Rucker recalled.


Read more: https://www.theroot.com/black-home-depot-employee-fired-because-he-retorted-to-1827749553

[still_one]

1. Home Depot just got themselves a lawsuit for unlawful termination.

[lunamagica]

5. K&R for visibility.

[Perseus]

30. I am not surprised, read about the Home Depot founders

and you won't be surprised either.

[ailsagirl]

44. I was just going to say that

[Mosby]

48. In New York, most employees are considered "at-will."

They don't need a reason to fire someone.

[still_one]

50. That does not mean he doesn't't have a case. Age discrimination, race discrimination, etc

[Mosby]

52. He's not going to find a lawyer to do the case on contingency.

So unless he has a 10-20k to drop on some lawyer he's out of luck.

Eta I think HD could have just given him a verbal warning and hope they take a lot of crap for this termination.

[still_one]

53. I am not going to debate this because I don't know the facts, but groups like the ACLU, NAACP, etc

have been known to take up discrimination lawsuits

[still_one]

54. A customer comes in, and alledgedly hurls racial slurs at an African American employee, and then

the employer fires the African American employee. it doesn't matter if it is an "at-will" state, discrimination is illegal, and because of the timing of the firing verses the racial slurs against him, I suspect Home Depot will settle before it goes too much further.

I can also see the ACLU, NAACP, and taking this up pro bono.


It is also bad press for Home Depot, I don't care if the ex-CEO is a right wing asshole, I don't think they want this kind of publicity

[Mosby]

60. He's getting his job back

HD has second thoughts, probably due to the backlash.

[louis c]

78. That's because we heard about it...

...Only a union would have saved his job if this incident remained out of the public eye.

[louis c]

2. And you wonder why workers need unions?

[CrispyQ]

15. This.

If you were born after 1980, all you've ever heard is that unions are bad.

[demmiblue]

18. Yep. n/t

[bluestarone]

23. EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bengus81]

62. That would have been great seeing that HD SHUT down and workers protesting....

What could HD do about it? Not a damn thing............

[niyad]

3. yet another reason (#1,256, I believe) to NEVER even step into HL.

(I will never forgive them for the death of a friend)

[sandensea]

7. Same here.

I haven't since 2003.

I bought $2,000 worth of tools and 2-by-4s for a small backyard project - and ended up returning $1,150 of it, such was the shoddiness.

[sandensea]

4. They should be fined $100 million for every day they don't reinstate Rucker.

Of course, good luck getting any of these Rethug judges to agree to it.

They fired him at 60 - knowing what that means in today'a America.

[hlthe2b]

6. Geez what a damned a'hole. I'm pleased when Lowes & HD allow me to bring my LEASHED dog in

but would NEVER even imagine bringing an UNLEASHED dog in.... and then to launch a RACIST tirade?

I do hope the employee sues.

[sdfernando]

27. I LOVE dogs but I hate them in stores where they shouldn't be...

like grocery stores (unless it is an assist dog) or home depot. Once I was in a HD and a lady had a leashed dog....dog took a crap in the middle of the isle...she just walked away with the dog and left it there for someone else to clean up or step in. Whats the big deal with leaving you pet at home when you go shopping?

[hlthe2b]

29. The stores out here are not crowded during the hours they allow dogs, but they must be well trained

I've NEVER seen a dog even lunge on the leash much less take a "dump".

I guess owners are more responsible where I live.

I don't think dogs should be allowed in many stores, but these warehouses allow for good places to complete training (not only for assist dogs, but those that must be well behaved in all kinds of public settings).

[Mosby]

55. I have

But I work at target right now.

There is a little terrier who takes a dump at the self checkout, pretty much every time the owner is in the store.

We have to clean it up, the mgmt and AP doesnt give a shit (no pun intended.)

I think the little guy gets stressed out from all the people and commotion.

[hlthe2b]

56. I've never seen Target allow dogs because they sell food, at least along the front Range-CO

I didn't know you lived in Colorado, too...

[Mosby]

57. I live in Phoenix AZ

All the large retail stores here allow animals in, regardless whether they sell groceries. People put them in carts some of the time, sometimes with their carriers.

They also allow people to eat and drink while they shop, which is also a health dept violation for a store that sells fresh food.

Do you ever go to starbucks? There are dogs in there all the time.

[hlthe2b]

58. Dogs are only allowed on the patios at Starbucks in Denver (and all of CO, afaik)...

[ChiTownDenny]

31. I love dogs too and one of the reasons I LOVE Paris

is that you can bring your dog anywhere, including into restaurants. A well-behaved dog, like a well-behaved child is a pleasure to witness.

[sdfernando]

32. and a not so well behaved dog ruins it for everyone in attendance.

..and can create liability for the dog owner and the restaurant/store.

[hlthe2b]

33. Speaks more to the irresponsibility of many Americans. I too have seen dogs throughout Europe

so well behaved it shocks tourists to see and you DO see them everywhere. If the people you experience have no regard for their dog's "manners", I hate to think how their kids behave.

[sdfernando]

35. I cannot argue with that. They don't call us

ugly Americans for nothing.

[Scalded Nun]

46. Agreed. This is common throughout Europe

Of course the owner assumes the personal responsibility for the behavior training of the animal. The owner also assumes personal responsibility for the actual behavior in stores, restaurants, etc. Those personal responsibilities are willingly accepted.

Personal responsibility...a concept foreign to most Americans.

[RussBLib]

8. Trump has really unleashed the ugly underbelly of Republicans

they feel emboldened to express their racism openly

yea, Trump!

[Sherman A1]

36. Trump had nothing to do with it.

Retail employees have been looked down upon, abused and disrespected by both employer and customers for decades. This is hardly anything new.

[catbyte]

41. You don't seriously believe that, do you? They feel entitled to spew their hate

wherever they please, whenever they please, and at whomever they please. This time it just so happened to be an employee at Home Depot. I'll bet the asshole who did it would've felt just as free to have let loose on someone in the parking lot who got in his way. It's a cancer. Sure employees have been and continue to be abused by employers and customers alike--I worked in retail--but there's a racial component to it that has reared it's ugly head since 2016 that can't be ignored.

[Sherman A1]

43. Yes, I most certainly do believe that.

worked Retail for over 4 decades and was the subject of numerous customer tirades through the years. I called it "the kick the dog syndrome". People were angry about something else in their life or generally pissed off at the world so we took the brunt of their anger because "x" product was out of stock or 3 pennies higher than the competition because we could not talk back to them and they knew that.

I've seen both the general abuse of Retail Employees and that which was racially motivated as well and if you believe that this is somehow tied to The "Esteemed" Mr. Trump you are seriously misinformed.

[Jake Stern]

76. Yes!!

A quarter century veteran of retail here. Once had a manager tell me, point blank, "I'd rather fire you than lose a customer. I have a stack of applications on my desk and can have you replaced before you get home."

Another time a customer shoved me and when I got back up in his face I was written up. The excuse? "He's a regular who spends a lot of money here so you should be kissing his ass not yelling at him".

Don't get me started on the verbal and physical attacks that come during Christmas Rush.

[Sherman A1]

77. Those of us who work or worked Retail have a

Bucket full of stories. People have certainly gotten much more mean as the decades have passed but this didn’t just begin in 2016.

A to a fellow Retail Veteran!

[CanonRay]

9. Paging Mr. Avenatti. Paging Mr. Avenatti.

[Wellstone ruled]

10. How many Home Depot Workers know of this Policy.

My bet is,maybe someone in HR,if one things these DIY Stores spend any time or money on these policies,your on the wrong planet. Ten Years,been in this fellows shoes on many occasions, doing the same job,and learned from Business Experience to walk away,and that was from interpersonal training from a previous Employer.

Worked for HD for a total of three weeks once,never seen or heard of this policy. Can your log on a Computer,yes,can you life fifty pounds,yes,can you answer a phone,yes,well here is your vest and you are a assigned to this Department and good luck. That is the Training in a nutshell.

[Mopar151]

74. HD is a low-class employer

Store thermostats are controlled from Atlanta. Bad supervisors encouraged, those who work with the customers treated like topsoil in Lawn & Garden.

[Wellstone ruled]

75. Must be the new norm.

Spent three days in their employ,two plus days to many. Again,that was fifteen years ago. Did do tens years at their Competition which is a minor step up.

[appalachiablue]

11. K & R This injustice must be stopped..

[saidsimplesimon]

13. I agree.

Perhaps a boycott and a protest at their doors would shame them.

[appalachiablue]

16. That & anything else calling attention to racist, anti labor actions.

[saidsimplesimon]

21. Resist

Yes, we should stand with POC and against efforts by companies who impede union organizing.

[SunSeeker]

12. K & R for exposure.

[Historic NY]

14. Glad I saw this, I'm now going to Lowes.

to pickup led bulbs.

[NBachers]

28. There are more choices than the McDonald's and Burger King of homecare stores. Any independent

hardware stores in your area? Or have they all been driven out of business by Home Depot and Lowe's?

Full disclosure: I work at an independent hardware store / lumber yard that goes back to post- World War II.

[DeminPennswoods]

63. I support my local Home Depot

because they give back to the community and especially the part of the community that's not nearly as well off as the part where the store is located.

[dalton99a]

17. Betcha the asshole can be identified from the surveillance tape

This happened last Thursday

[ArizonaLib]

19. Local hardware stores are better for your neighborhood, anyway

We call it Homophobic Depot. It's long been near the top of our Do Not Go To list along with Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Chickfilet, Cracker Barrel, and the list goes on.

[True_Blue]

20. That customer should've been kicked to the curb

And banned for life. I definitely won't be shopping there anymore. I can get what I need from Ace or Lowes.

[elmac]

22. Home Depot

George W's economic mascot

[Honeycombe8]

24. The biggest part of Home Depot's problem is that they didn't ask HIS side of the story.

But in the end, he didn't follow protocol. I can understand what happened here, and can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing. But the reason they are supposed to call management for an irate customer is to diffuse a situation. This crazy customer could've pulled out a gun & started shooting, since it's obvious he got super mad over nothing.

But I would think they would have given him a warning, given his length of time working there.

It's a shame Home Depot didn't stand behind its employee more...just giving him a warning, and LISTENING to the employee's version!

The owner of HD - wasn't he the one who ranted publicly something inappropriate or racist or Trumpian or something? I think I recall that because I considered boycotting HD.

[DeminPennswoods]

25. Having worked in retail, you cannot argue with customers

regardless of what they say to you. But it sounds like after this employee told the customer dogs/pets had to be leashed and got an earful back, he should have summoned his dept head or store mgr and let him or her deal with the customer.

[Sherman A1]

38. Precisely

I have been the subject of customer tirades and the only thing you can do is call the manager on duty. Hopefully they will eject the customer, but you never correct or talk back to one.

[DeminPennswoods]

59. One customer

harrangued me that the bookstore (in a big conservative area) where I was working had too many "liberal" books. I explained the store only cared about sales and carried books and/or authors that were good sellers. That didn't stop him, though. He went on to tell me that he was a shareholder in the bookstore company. I tried to kind of ignore him and carry on with my job arranging book shelves, but he just would not let up. Finally, I politely suggested since he was a shareholder in the company, the best place for him to address his concerns was at the company's annual shareholder meeting. Fortunately I was able to disengage after that.

[Sherman A1]

67. Any of us who worked Retail have a book full

Of stories to share. Some funny and others less so. I worked grocery for 43 years and remember that Sunday after 3pm the mood shifted as folks realized their weekend was ending. Often they were just nasty. Monday nights were equally as they had just experienced their Monday. On a Sunday night I recall being called everything that was racially and anotimically impossible by one lady because I would sell her liquor. After 45 minutes of berating me she could only come up with “you’re a Norwegian”. The police arrived and took her away.

[RhodeIslandOne]

71. Oh god

I used to get this asshole once every so many months when I worked at Waldenbooks in the early 2000's. They look at bookstores with disdain in general and only show up to purchase the latest bullshit screed from Coulter or Hannity. They accuse you of hiding right-wing books. They are repugnant and I imagine they are only worse now and probably ask why their aren't more pictures in the books they buy.

[stevil]

68. Having worked in Foodservice as a Manager all over the US

The customer (small c) is not always right, but they are always a customer. But I never tolerated abuse of my team (staff). I always backed them up when the guests of my establishment unless I knew otherwise.. Not all Managers are like that. The "customer" won the battle but lost the war. The team member might have had the resources at that precise moment. I know how this goes..

[LanternWaste]

80. Ah yes, another check in the "your job or your dignity" column.

It's a great excuse to use when we want to tell people not to make waves.

[The River]

26. Home Despot

Headquarters contact info.

[csziggy]

34. Go Fund Me for Mr. Rucker

https://www.gofundme.com/injustice-in-the-518/

[cstanleytech]

37. Granted he made a mistake and should have called a manager and reported it

but firing him was not called for rather he should have just gotten a verbal reminder to follow company protocol.

[Mosby]

49. Exactly.

Surely they have some sort of progressive discipline policy.

[pecosbob]

39. I stopped shopping there the second time they let my credit card number get stolen

and it doesn't surprise me that the ownership are pieces of sh*t.

[catbyte]

40. I won't set foot in a Home Depot. Big GOP supporter from way back.

[GusBob]

42. Believe or not, there was a well respected DUer who claimed

Oh, he was well loved here, that Wee lil' Willy Pitty. He claimed, and as I worked in customer service for years, I will never ever forget his line

"if you wear the uniform, you have to take the abuse"

I am so glad that worthless used car salesman so called liberal is gone.

Christ people kissed his ass

[VWolf]

45. I'm sorry, but the word "retort" in the subject got me thinking of this:

[Maggiemayhem]

47. I know this will be unpopular

But please leave your pets at home. I have been knocked down by a big dog, freaked out by an iguana and dodged shit from an escaped parrot. If you don’t have a service dog, you don’t to drag your animals out. Leave them home where they are safe.

[Mosby]

51. It's getting out of control imo

The truth is that only service animals are allowed in stores, but now they let any animal in, I was in target yesterday and there was a large unfixed PB and a female being led around the store by their owners.

When something really bad happens it will change.

[Mosby]

61. HD is giving him his job back

See the op link.

[Bengus81]

64. Hell the cashier was doing him a FAVOR and got the Trump treatment.......

A manager or assistant manager could have seen the guy well before he checked out and told him he need to take the dog out to his car NOW,that's our leash laws.

So the black guy is just telling this guy to make sure you have a leash on the dog and he gets trash talked by this Trump loving POS. FUCK HIM and FUCK HD.

Oh sure the guy got his job back....once the SHIT hit the media fan.

[bluestarone]

65. GREAT NOW

They need to get rid of the manager

[Gothmog]

66. The employee got his job back

Link to tweet

[dalton99a]

72. Good

[DiverDave]

69. Call a manager?

Call a doctor. To remove my boot from his behind.
And, "don't talk back"?? Sorry, I wouldnt let anybody talk to me like that.
It emboldens the people that get away with this.
Then they do it again and again...

[DeminPennswoods]

70. Yes, that was the best and appropriate response

In retail, customers = sales = income.

[DiverDave]

81. So, anything for profit?

Nope. Just because you work in the service industry, it does not mean you must take abuse.
But, any manager would respond as you did.
Increased sales= higher bonus...
Who cares if some scumbag denigrates your minimum wage employee?

[dreamland]

73. He may have his job back but he'll have a target on him

...by the "good" folks of HD. You can be sure management is going to watch him carefully for an excuse to really fire him.

[Gothmog]

79. Black man fired by Home Depot for reacting to "racist" customer won't accept his job back.

Link to tweet