Guys, I Need Advice...

[FluffyZooCrew]

So, I got the new job at the grooming shop. And I *love* it. It's a small place, and just me and two groomers who are super awesome. They were even teaching me how to groom. I love it there, the people are great, the hours are nice, you name it.

So what's the problem? Well...

I knew the area wasn't good when I pulled into the place this morning. It's in a small shopping center, but the other businesses are closed down, so we're the only business still open. The shopping center is small, and off the road, and kinda out of sight from everything. The neighborhood next to it is a very crumby one, nearly everyone has burglar bars on their doors/windows.

So I spent my day there, and towards the end of the day, I went to take out the trash out back. The back door leads into an old alley way, and it's spooky as hell with absolutely no one and nothing around.

So, as I was getting ready to leave for the day, I started talking with the guy and asked him what the area was like, and did they have any trouble. So we sat, and talked.

He said, "I'm not going to lie to you... this is a very dangerous place." :yikes:

He said, you would think that no one would rob a dog grooming shop (and I honestly thought that way), he said but they have had so much trouble, it's scary. He said they've had three seperate incidents in the last two weeks of shady guys coming inside, scoping the place out, and then leaving without saying a word. He said there's been drug deals in the parking lot, they've been robbed more times than he can count, and people have tried to break into the back door... while employee's are there.

He said a couple years ago, one of the employee's was held up, robbed, and shot at gunpoint.

He was telling me that on days where he's there alone until closing, after everyone else leaves, he has to deadbolt the doors closed, because people have tried to rob him in there, and he's been robbed leaving and getting into his truck.

WTF?

And he was telling me yesterday that every now and then, *I* would be the person staying there alone for a few hours after everyone else left, to close the store.

So... can you see my problem? LOL

I *LOVE* the job, love the people, love everything about the job itself. But I am seriously concerned about being robbed, either when taking out the trash in the alley, or someone coming in and robbing us at gunpoint (and he said it's happened, and they usually only get away with about $40-$50), or me getting robbed one day either when I'm there alone, or leaving by myself to get into my truck.

So... what should I do? Start looking for a safer job? I'd hate to be robbed and killed over a minimum wage job. I already lost a friend that way. Robbed one night, and shot to death as he was getting ready to leave work.

The guy was telling me that most of the people there have come to work there, and eventually left, left because they were robbed personally while leaving work or at work, or was there when the business got robbed. And they got spooked and quit the job.

Oh boy.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

wow...nice of him to tell you after, personally? I'd leave...likely just like the rest of the applicants have...hence the ad not saying WHERE the shop actually is.

 

[Fran101]

I dont know. Id request to NEVER have the night/alone shift, and if they say NO, then quit. sorry but thats an unsafe situation and its unfair of them to put you there.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Well, I will give him notice if I decide to leave. He's so super nice, and so is the other groomer. I may stay there a week, make a good paycheck, and then give them a week's notice, if they want one, of me leaving. My position isn't *that* important where they need a huge notice to find someone. He said they've been without a bather for over 2 months, but said they decided to hire someone for the position again.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I'd start looking for another job. After all, your safety should be your number one priority.

 

[Beanie]

Yikes.
Wow, no. I wouldn't stay. Be up front and tell the guy you're not comfortable working there because of the safety issue. I wouldn't worry about staying a week or whatever either, because staying there is actually keeping him from trying to replace you if he wants to do so. You're not helping yourself or him out by staying, either, IMO.

I'm boggled why the guy hasn't relocated. I wouldn't take my dog to a shady location to be groomed... he'd probably do better business elsewhere. Not to mention even if a burgler only makes off for $40-50, that's $40-50. That's income. And he personally has been robbed, too...?
His bad business sense freaks me out almost as much as the shady location, to be honest!

 

[Paige]

If you aren't comfortable you should leave. You aren't going to be able to do your job to the best of your ability if you are paranoid about getting robbed.

 

[corgipower]

Yikes.
Wow, no. I wouldn't stay. Be up front and tell the guy you're not comfortable working there because of the safety issue. I wouldn't worry about staying a week or whatever either, because staying there is actually keeping him from trying to replace you if he wants to do so. You're not helping yourself or him out by staying, either, IMO.

I'm boggled why the guy hasn't relocated. I wouldn't take my dog to a shady location to be groomed... he'd probably do better business elsewhere. Not to mention even if a burgler only makes off for $40-50, that's $40-50. That's income. And he personally has been robbed, too...?
His bad business sense freaks me out almost as much as the shady location, to be honest!

^I completely agree!^

Please be safe!

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Thanks guys. I'm going to let him know tomorrow that I plan to leave, and apologize for any inconvenience.

Beanie, he's a really young guy, and said he bought the place from a groomer that had been there for years. When she was robbed and shot (she survived), she got fed up and put the place up for grabs to any other groomer that wanted to take over. So he, and the other groomer, went in together and took over the place.

Honestly, if I were them, I'd be scared to be there everyday working. It's really a kinda spooky place. And even he admitted that it freaks him out a little.

 

[bubbatd]

Two thoughts .... he should take late groomings only by appts. so no one is there alone ....and there should be a buddy system with the trash . Second , if this is know as a crime area could you talk to the police about being in the parking area when you're there alone ??? If you like the job , something might be worked out .....like having doors locked at all times with a speak through for clients . Add: I just saw your post .... I feel sorry for the poor guy , but can't blame you .

 

[ma-vie-en-vert]

If you decide to keep the job just don't take anything with you to work. No money, no purse or wallet or anything. Cuz then if they try to rob you, you've got nothing.

 

[Val_theAussie]

Should never stay in a place of employ (where there is money) alone. Most reputable places wouldn't let an employee stay by themselves anyway. Go with your inner gut feelings. If they tell you that the place isn't safe, go with it and make arrangements to find another, safer place of employ.

 

[grab01]

If I liked the job, I'd probably stay. I'd just take adequate safety precautions (keeping the door locked when alone, etc) and perhaps see if he was open to other security measures..additional alarm systems, perhaps keeping two people staffed, asking the police to patrol more frequently, etc. But then I work a job where, when I'm on call, I go in alone at all hours of the night if I get a call (I usually get there faster than the vets) and I really have no assurance that the person who I need to let in is really there for what they say they're there for. I can't very well stand inside the door and ask them pop questions if they have a severely sick or injured pet. And many times with larger animals I have to go to their vehicle to help them carry it in.

But I don't usually worry too much..I figure crime can happen anywhere. I'm as safe as I can be without limiting myself, which I refuse to do.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Would he be willing to let you have a friend come with you on the nights your alone? Maybe if you explain your concerns and ask that he let someone come and sit with you, explain that you will still do your work, its just for safety, he would allow it.

Edit: or one of your dogs.

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

He probably would PM, but from what he was telling me, most of the robberies happened during the day, with other employee's there. The place is great, but the location is... ugh. And I didn't really know that until I got there this morning, and realized that the place is located in a kind of off the road, secluded type shopping center, in a high crime area.

 

[PoodleMommy]

It was just an idea if you decided to stay.

your safety is the most important thing and I would totally understand if you wanted to leave, I am pretty sure I would be gone already :lol-sign:

 

[FluffyZooCrew]

Oh, I know what you're saying, and I really would love to stay, if the circumstances were much better. But honestly, I don't want to take that risk for a minimum wage job. I'm young, and would prefer not to be murdered. And it happens. Like I said, my friend was murdered leaving his job one night. Held at gunpoint, stole his wallet, and then shot him before running off. It's a sad world we live in.

And glad to know you would've left too. That's kinda what I wanted -- a consensus of "what would you do if this were your job?" type of thing. From the looks of it here so far, it looks like me wanting to find a diff. job is about the same as what others would do.

Thanks guys.

 

[Buckshot]

I bet you could find a better job that is a lot safer. Odd how we cant expose employees to fire, electrical or slip and fall hazards but this is perfectly ok....

 

[FoxyWench]

i personally would talk to him about your concerns, you are a young woman putting you at higher risk as is, combined with an already dangrous area with a history of issues...

i would explain it very clearly to him, let him know you LOVE the shop, and enjoy working there, but you dont want to, nor can you in good mind put yourself in that kind of risk, you have a large doggy family who rely on too...

i would also let him know that should they decide to relocate (whihc would be a huge suggestion!) that you would absolutly love to be considered for the same position.

the ONLY way i would consider working there would be if there was a police presence in the plaza during buisness and after hours (long enough to get the last person there safely to their car! and a budy system for the trash runs, id also only do trash during the day, when it was light, i know leaving trash in the shop over night woudl suck but i defintatly would not be walking down ANY back once it starts getting dark back there.

id also be carrying a can of pepper spray on me.