Upstate New York Walmart Employee Fired For Redeeming Cans

A happy Walmart employee in East Greenbush New York was abruptly terminated after he decided to redeem $5.10 worth of cans inside the store. 

Thomas Smith really enjoyed his job collecting shopping carts at the East Greenbush Walmart store. He worked hard and was genuinely grateful to have an opportunity to work again; that all changed in a moment.

After he chose to redeem some recyclable cans and bottles, he was immediately called into the office and interrogated by security. According to the Times Union:

"I didn't know you couldn't take empties left behind. They were garbage," Smith said. "I didn't even get a chance to explain myself. They told me to turn in my badge."Surveillance cameras caught Smith redeeming the empty bottles and cans at the store, tantamount to theft of Walmart property, according to the manager.

The manager even asked Smith to pay him the $5.10 but he didn't have the cash on him so he ended up taking an hour long bus ride so he could give him the money.

I used to be a merchandiser at this particular Walmart and I know how this East Greenbush store operates. I was often confronted by management for using a shopping cart to tote around my laptop computer while I was taking inventory. They would tell me: "shopping carts are for customers only." Realistically there's no way to do the job without the use of a cart and managers were always OK with me using the carts at other Walmart stores.

Smith was homeless months before his impromptu termination.  He's since taken up his case with the Center of Law and Justice.

One of my friend's discovered an unexpected surprise when she opened her DVDs that she bought from Walmart.