That Fire Alarm Is False, But Hey, Speaking Of Fires, You're Fired

from the people-skills dept

It's always a good Friday when you find out the company you work for is going under. But what can make those days really great is the caring and sensitive manner in which the company lets you know. For instance, in 2003, a British company told its 2,400 employees that the company was shutting and they wouldn't get paid any more via text message. Today, a department store in England gave its 140 employees the news that they're going to be out of a job in two weeks by pulling the fire alarm to clear the store of shoppers and to gather staff in one location -- the point where they're supposed to meet up in case of fire. The administrators brought in to try and salvage the store's broke owners say "the most efficient and practical method of informing their colleagues of this business development was by using the fire alarm", and they wanted staff to find out from them before word was made public. Efficient and practical, indeed -- not to mention completely crass and obnoxious. Perhaps we can take some solace in the fact that these nice folks didn't actually burn the place down instead.
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  • icon
    Ron (profile), 4 May 2007 @ 7:47pm

    Illegal

    In the US, I think it is illegal to pull a fire alarm unless an emergency exists. Maybe the owners of the store will be arrested for falsly pulling the alarm. I presume the local fire department responded (unless they were informed there would be a test alarm at a certain time ... in which case the store personnel were actually the second to know). So, maybe the owners will also be charged for the cost of the fire department rolling on the call.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      DittoBox, 4 May 2007 @ 9:42pm

      Re: Illegal

      I'm not sure about legality, it's likely a state law.

      However here in WA you get fined for it if the fire department comes out and lo-and-behold there's no fire.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2007 @ 5:23am

      Re: Illegal

      It's not illegal at all. You think buildings never check their fire alarms? All you have to do is notify the proper authorities before hand.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 5 May 2007 @ 9:52am

        Re: Re: Illegal

        but i think that someone from the fire department has to be present at the drill just in case, that was the case last summer when they had a drill at my office, but it could be different for every city/state

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Hyrulio, 5 May 2007 @ 4:24pm

      Re: Illegal

      It's not illigal to do that - most fire alarm systems simply come with a 'test' function - you push a button and it sounds the alarm in the building, and nowhere else! That is most likely what they did!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    eskayp, 4 May 2007 @ 8:20pm

    alarming situation

    The owners are bankrupt alright -- socially and intellectually.
    After ripping off a movie for the concept of a 'You'r fired' alarm,
    I wonder if the owners foresaw the possibility of 140 fire alarm calls
    to their private residences at 2 am in the near future.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mike3, 4 May 2007 @ 8:58pm

    this explains it....

    I mean if this is the way they fire people think of how they run the business and manage there employees? I mean if you thought that SMS a your fired message to all your employees was a good idea I mean what other "great" ideas did these people have?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    The Swiss Cheese Monster, 4 May 2007 @ 9:45pm

    Interesting. I might have to try that sometime

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jim Beam, 5 May 2007 @ 2:15am

    It's been done

    In NYC under Guiliani, they faked a fire alarm to clear out a firehouse that they wanted to close down permanently. While the guys were out in the trucks, they locked it up

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Steve, 5 May 2007 @ 5:18am

    Jim,
    Do you have a citation for that story about NYC?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Machavelli, 5 May 2007 @ 11:05am

      Re: Jim Beam

      It's been done by Jim Beam on May 5th, 2007 @ 2:15am

      In NYC under Guiliani, they faked a fire alarm to clear out a firehouse that they wanted to close down permanently. While the guys were out in the trucks, they locked it up

      ===============

      He will not post a citation for it because it didn't
      happen, he just has an axe to grind with guilani, and
      or is a Billary fan.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        ogman, 6 May 2007 @ 5:39am

        Re: Re: Jim Beam by Machavelli

        Wow, you had some cred there, right up to the distinctly unclever Billary thing. It's just possible that Jim has absolutely no ax to grind with Giuliani, while it's blatantly obvious that you have a problem with anyone named Clinton. Kind of hypocritical of you, eh?

        While the incident may just be an urban legend, it's also possible that what Jim said did happen and did not, for obvious reasons, receive a lot of publicity.

        Oh, and if you are going to use Machiavelli's name, at least learn how to spell it.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 6 May 2007 @ 6:25am

          Re: Re: Re: Jim Beam by Machavelli

          Likely the firemen were union. Ever try to fire a useless union worker? Driving the US jobs out one lazy, overpaid, under performing, non-competitive person at a time.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Liesl, 6 May 2007 @ 5:42pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: Jim Beam by Machavelli

            Likely the firemen were union. Ever try to fire a useless union worker? Driving the US jobs out one lazy, overpaid, under performing, non-competitive person at a time.

            I'm sure that when you dial 911 and expect a fire truck to magically appear in your driveway with a hose to put out the fire. Do you know any lazy firefighters, except for that lard-assed Tenny Pierce, aka Snausage Breath, from the LAFD?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Stephen, 5 May 2007 @ 6:18am

    Closed for Business

    A local restaraunt which had been open for 15+ years one day last summer posted a 8 1/2" x 11" printed sign on their door stating that they were closed for business. That was how they notified their employees as they arrived for work the following morning. They didnt intend to pay them either. :P

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      chet, 6 May 2007 @ 7:04pm

      Re: Closed for Business

      that is common in the restaurant biz. It has happened to me 3 times in a 20 year career.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    rEdEyEz, 5 May 2007 @ 11:46am

    drills and testing are common, WFR - not

    Most large facilities contract a third party service that monitors the fire/security system. Upon indication of an incident, for instance, our service supplied a 3 minute grace window in which you can call in, provide a password/code, and notify them of either; a false alarm has occurred or testing is in progress. If after the grace period, noone has called, the service relays the alarm to the local FD for response.
    We were constantly in contact with the service, because of accidents (cracked sprinkler heads) or because our insurance company required flow testing/system integrity checks/monitoring...

    In the event of a "no call," the fire department will respond, and will charge you for the incident. If false alarms becomes a frequent nuisance, they will fine you as well.

    Standard practices and all, except for the Work Force Reductions... (then again, maybe not)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Jerk, 5 May 2007 @ 12:27pm

    Lawsuit...

    Just be glad nobody got hurt when they were leaving the store, otherwise, when the truth came out, they would have been a lawsuit, for sure.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    TG, 5 May 2007 @ 8:15pm

    your fired!

    excuse me...isnt the point of the matter how insensitive life can be when you get the axe-not fire codes?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    kb, 6 May 2007 @ 1:07am

    this what i call cruel jokes

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Jeff, 6 May 2007 @ 10:10am

    There was a rock radio station here that changed formats AND employees by having a big party for everyone one fine night and at the end of the night, everyone was told, "door prize time..."
    "We're changing formats on Monday morning, you're being let go." Contract buyouts and such were delivered the following morning.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    GoblinJuice, 6 May 2007 @ 10:42am

    rotflmao!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    IHMB, 6 May 2007 @ 7:37pm

    got fired? talk to us

    www.ihatemyboss.com.au

    this is a website for the world to complain ANONYMOUSLY about their bosses and colleagues!! come and have an anonymous vent- it will make you feel so much better! or move to australia and find a cool casual job with us

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Thel, 7 May 2007 @ 8:19am

      Re: got fired? talk to us

      this is a website for the world to complain ANONYMOUSLY about their bosses and colleagues!! come and have an anonymous vent- it will make you feel so much better! or move to australia and find a cool casual job with us

      Your paying for the moving correct? Please tell me so. :-(

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    JustMatt, 7 May 2007 @ 9:29am

    Are You Free, Mr. Granger?

    Oblig. Are You Being Served ref.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    aly, 7 May 2007 @ 2:03pm

    maybe the owner was expecting the place to be touched up . that way the fire crew are there in time. and migth even be able to claim insurance ...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    chris (profile), 8 May 2007 @ 9:36am

    irony

    the term "getting fired" comes from the medieval practice of setting fire to the homes of people who were no longer welcome in a community.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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