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Subject: Store 0302

To whom it may concern;

My name is Megan Echtenkamp and I recently worked at the F21 in Omaha, Nebraska, store 0302. I am emailing to express my concerns as well as other employee concerns. Essentially, the management needs to be overridden and rehired. The current management team acts as a group of adolescent drama queens and in my opinon are too young to be in charge of such a busy store. I was hired in February 2012 and things were great for the first week. I really enjoyed working for your company. After a few weeks, things began to change. I was told I was fantastic at my job by the Visual Merchandiser, however was freqently yelled at for making simple mistakes such as forgetting to put a security tag on returned merchandise. I noticed from the time that I was hired that the managers always talked badly about previous and current employees, such as their work ethic. I thought it was a bit too much, some of the employees this was their first job. Once I tried to help a newly hired girl by teling her where a dress went and got screamed at in front of a customer by an assistant manager named Justine Baldwin. While I was still ringing the customer up, Justine returned and told me I was right about where the dress went. The customer came back about an hour later, pulled me aside and advised me that it would be wise to contact the corporate office about the way I was being treated, she told me she worked for the Nebraska Department of Labor. I shrugged it off, determined to keep my job. One night, after I had worked there for about 2 months, the girls and I decided to go out that upcoming Friday, we all got along fantasticly and wanted to talk outside of work. None of us worked on that Friday and the next day the schedule had been changed and every one of us worked all night that Friday. Another occurance happened when I vomitted in the bathroom, it was almost closing time and I got food posioning from the food I had ingested on my break, I couldn't even stand up. The managers refused to let me go home, even though we were overstaffed for the evening. I was a good employee, often taking up hours of people who didn't show up for their shifts, cancelling plans to come in and work. However, the one time I told Ryan Sullivan, Co-manager, that I could not work an upcoming Friday shift, I ended up fired. I had a school event, I was a senior in high school and had a performance for my AP Drama class that was graded and I could not miss. Not only did I inform him two weeks in advance, I also asked every single employee if they could cover my shift. None could, so I called in on the day I was scheduled to work and reminded Ryan that I had a school event. He gave me the number of two newly hired employees, whom I called and they could not work. I called back and informed him that I could not work.

The next day I called in and spoke to Ryan in regards to what bank issued our checks (It was payday), he said he didn't know and would find out. I told him I would see him later that afternoon, I was scheduled 5pm-10pm. I went in at 4:50 and checked the new schedule, writing down when I worked. I couldn't find a manager to get my check out of the safe so I wandered to the back room where I found Phong, a visual assisstant. She asked me what I was doing back there and I told her I needed to put my stuff away and get my check. She said "Oh, I thought you got fired?" I was floored, I had no knowledge of this, I had just spoken on the phone to Ryan earlier, he had said nothing. A few seconds later, Ryan walked back. I asked him if I was fired, he said yes, that I had a "no call, no show." No, I didn't show up for my shift, I had an unavoidable event, but I knew I called. I have witnessess from my school, who I was out touring to elementary schools to perform our play to, who heard the phone call. I didn't remind him of this, I was too appalled to reply. I simply asked for my check. When I exited the back room, the other managers were huddled in a corner laughing and looking at me. It was below embarrassing. I got my check and left.

Later that night I recieved a text from my old co-worker Tera who said "I thought you knew, I was so upset they fired you. They were talking about it for days." This threw me off, I was fired for something that hadn't even occured yet. It is against the law to defamate an employee and my family and I are thinking about taking legal action. I have multiple witnesses that defamation occured before and after the time I was fired. Managers repeatedly acted unprofessional and spoke badly of me as well as made false statements about my work ethic. My old co-workers know I was a hard and determined worker, always doing a job right. I was wrongfully terminated. I can prove that. For example, today an old co-worker I remain in contact with informed me that an employee had actually no called, no showed and only recieved a write up for a first offense. I had never been written up, I had never no called no showed. I loved my job at Forever 21 and would love it back under new management.

As I was fired in May, I did not think to email corporate until Julianna (old co-worker) informed me of her situation. Julianna worked at Forever 21 for 2 years before I did. She is currently a head cashier, she payed her way through college and recently put in her two weeks before she works her new job at a salon.The management team was aware of this transition as far back as January. She's been telling me all that goes on, they've treated her badly ever since, keep her off register, which appalled me. In the 5 months that I worked there, I never once saw Julianna anywhere but the register. She has been being falsly accused of giving people things without them paying for them and has not been given many hours. Many other employees are quitting, such as my friend Tera I had mentioned earlier, because of the management. I was 17 when I started, I was expected, after a while, to work anywhere from 25-35 hours a week. 35 hours is considered full time, I have worked 38 hours in a week once, during the school year, which is also illegal. I have witnessed Justine Baldwin giving previous employees a discount, even though they were fired or quit, just because she liked them. When I asked why she gave a girl a discount she responded with "She used to work here, her parents got mad because she spent so much money on clothes, so I give her a discount to avoid trouble." Another time, a girl who quit came up and Justine pushed me aside and entered her discount number for the girl. The girl looked at me and shrugged, she knew it was not aloud but said nothing. None of the other managers did this. Justine would yell at employees for holding things for themselves, which is understandable, what isn't is the fact she puts things for herself on hold. Another time, I miscounted my drawer and I overheard her telling a visual assistant that I was trying to frame her for stealing. Julianna informs me that they continue to talk about me badly, it's been a month. This is unprofessional and urges me to take this to court. Justine told me that she had been called corporate on numerous times, so I am certainly not the only one who sees a problem with management here. They overworked me and underpaid me for all that I did and wrongfully terminated my employement. They continue to degrade other employees and you will be recieveing an email from Ms. Julianna Headley, who also plans to take legal action. I loved the girls I worked with, they all expressed their remorse for my termination, saying how wrong it was. They've all told me the same story about how the management team talked about firing me in front of them, which is defamation. Seeing as they have all conveyed the same story, I am sure they'd have no problem testifying for me.

In addition, when I would tell my friends at school where I worked, they would express their unhappiness with the management to me and how I needed to try and make the place more helpful and not so rude.

I am very upset by the continuation of this, which is why I have emailed you with my concerns as well as others. The majority of employees agree on all that I have said, we're all great workers and I think we deserve to be treated as such. As I stated, I think this management team needs to be rehired before the opening of the new store in January. I honestly believe that they can not handle it and do a poor job of handleing their employees. It's most unprofessional, and as a customer once told me, it makes the store look bad. Thank you for your time,

Best Regards,

Megan M. Echtenkamp

June 12, 2012

Location: Omaha, Nebraska

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Guest

How do I get a hold of corporate ? Please I need help !!!

Guest

I used to for for forever21 as an assistant manager and this company is horrible to work for unless you're willing to kiss *** to get promoted or even liked by your higher management. I was accused of time fraud and the store manager persued for me to get let go because I wouldn't kiss her ***.

Forever21 is constantly being sued left and right for labor laws and wrongful termination. MEGAN I would advise you to persue on legal action against this company. I did and was glad they did not get away with it.

I now work for an even better retail clothing and actually get paid better too! I am happy where I am and I hope you come to a conclusion and have that company pay you back !

Josi P

Hey Ethan, you don't tell your manager you can't work a shift? Since when?

People get sick; personal issues interfere with work.

That's life. That's why they're called "sick days."

Josi P

Megan, write every incidence down and call the Labor Board in your state. There's no reason why you should suffer emotional distress in the workplace.

You should have been warned before they fired you. Do you have any commendations or good reviews? I know what you're going through. I worked for the phone company many years ago & was constantly harassed.

I got myself a lawyer & sued them for mental distress. I won a $70 thousand settlement. In truth, I would have rather not gone thru the misery of being constantly berated by management only because the manager didn't like me.

I won in the end but only because I didn't let them get away with it. Call the labor board & file a complaint.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Josi P

Can managers , assistant managers , or sales associates date each other while working at any Forever 21 Establishment ??

Guest

Ignore what that *** is saying; I don't doubt your story for a moment based on personal experience. I apologize that you had to deal with that at your place of work; and I think you should definitely take the company to court.

I hope you win, too - I'm tired of good, honest employees falling victim to immature and unprofessional management.

This is addressed to Ethan - shut up. Seriously. You know nothing about this girl, and I'll bet you're a bitter 23 year old who's mad that he can't get a job and spends his time on the internet trolling honest, frustrated people. How dare you accuse someone you've never met of partying and lying and all the other idiotic things you listed?

Nothing in her story alludes to that, and you're being completely ageist and condescending.

I also like how you keep insinuating that she chose partying and 'other engagements' over working, when in fact it was school - something that is definitely more important for a seventeen year old who needs to think about her future. Grow up and stop acting like an immature, bitter little child.

Guest

Also you don't tell your manager you cannot work a shift. Getting your way is okay when you are four.

However you are 18 now and if they scheduled you to work on Friday, than you should work on Friday. You are still young and have some growing up to do you "and" Rene Chavez.

Guest

I am not trolling, but I have a feeling that the person who posted this complaint as well as Rene Chavez are the same person. Funny how both of you are 18.

You have a new job, word of advice, don't call in sick unless you really are sick, don't chose other engagements over your job, do what you are required to instead of bashing the managers.

Act your age rather than like a five year old. Don't make up lies.

Guest

Rene, I am legal now I'm 18. And yes I keep records. I've had other jobs and never been fired and have a new job now so the main thing that concerns me is the fact they are being unprofessional and continue to talk about me

Guest

Excuse me I live a respectable life and have never drank or partied in my entire life. If you don't like it don't comment, okay thanks :)

Guest

Megan, Please try to ignore the Jedi Knight Ethan poster. He seems to be an immatrue internet troll playing a mean game.

I am sorry you have had this problem at work. Since you are 17 and they had you work over 30 hours I believe you are correct it is against the law, I believe due to the Federal Child Labor Laws. It seems you have been treated very poorly by your former employees' management. You may be entiled to Unemployment since you were fired through no fault and doing of your own. If unemployment denies your claim appeal it and there may be a very good chance you will win. you may not be the first that had this trouble with this company,

I believe that since you are underaged it may be your parent's responsibility to report this company to the Dept of Labor. Keep and make copies of any records (even oral ones), pay stubs you may have, hours worked, and any reviews you have ever gotten there parising your performance or work if you decide to file for unemployment.

Sweetie, I hope things get better for you. I believe you and I'm sure you were a good employee. I lost my first job when I just 18 and going to college for the first time. A couple of mgrs. were determined to make my work schedules and attending classes very hard for me. Many mgrs. were good, though. I thought I would never be hired again anywhere but I was wrong. Thes things are common unfortunately.

Guest

I bet the real reason you find problems with your management team is because they wrote you up and fired you for not doing your job properly. If it is your job to put the security tag on returned merchandise you should be doing it. How often do you forget to do this. Maybe the managers refused to let you go home for vomiting because you often cried wolf and pretended you were sick, and when you were sick for real they did not believe you. Also that woman who said you should complain to coorperate does not care about you. She just wants a job since she works in the department of labour.

When you are scheduled to work, you can't just say I can't work because I have a party. Grow up you made the choice to choose to party rather than work and you lost your job. Stop acting like you are still six.

Also get your story straight, you said you were fired the day before you spoke to Ryan.

I think the real reason you got fired was because of your forgetting to do what was part of your job, lying and calling in sick and partying when you should be working.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-495276

I just came across this... You're an ignorant person picking on people that have been mistreated by their past employer.

Wait, maybe you are THAT employer! Managers at Forever 21 act like they are all high and mighty.

You, Jedi Knight Ethan, need to get a life and mind your own business! Stop bullying teenagers.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-495276

I'm late but so what. Why are you trying to spin her story?

If she says that's what happened and YOU weren't there then why are you so against it? I bet you're one negative individual! She said nothing about partying, seriously, the girl had a school project and SCHOOL is important.

You said "I think" and "I bet" and "Maybe" but those are guesses. Shut up and READ and stop trying to play mind reader.

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