James Hilsum
If you ever find yourself needing a pair of shoes while in Lynchburg, Virginia, then you might be out of luck, after an entire staff of employees all left their jobs at the same time in a mall-based shoe department store.
A TikTok video documented the incredible show of solidarity, and sees user @garwood881 ask her colleagues about how their feelings after quitting.
She said on the video: “Okay, so the whole shoe department crew is leaving. How are you feeling?”
A co-worker is seemingly in jovial spirts when he explains how he’s cleared out his locker with a bag of cloths in his grasp.
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Another co-worker makes an obscene gesture to the camera, while another said he “felt great”, as the mass walkout took place.
In the comment written beneath the video, @garwood881 writes: “When the entire staff decides to quit the shoe department in a matter of minutes. To our [direct manager], we all hated you and don’t forget to fix those window displays. Shoe department you’ve been real, you’ve been fun, but you sure as hell haven’t been real fun,” the user added in the caption.
At the time of writing, the video has over 897,000 views, 67,000 likes and 800 comments.
It has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction, with viewer saying: “Wow, good for guys standing up. Good thing are coming in all the staff ways,” while another added: “Good on y’all it’s not easy but real change takes something drastic like this.”
There was also a damning indictment of the retail world, with other viewers voicing their concerns at how they had been treated while working in the industry.
One person said: “I work for the shoe department in my town they stole money from me and promise me commission never saw it,” one person shared.
“I work for the shoe department in my town they stole money from me and promise me commission never saw it,” another added.
A third viewer echoed the concerns raised and said: “Worked with Shoe Show for two years (their sister company) and I can say no context needed. That whole corporation is evil [including direct managers] and higher ups.”
The reasons for the mass walk-out remain unclear, but @garwood881 said the incident was about “making a statement.”
The Daily Dot reports that the trend of workers resigning is becoming more prevalent in the United States, with 63 percent leaving because of poor pay and no career growth. Meanwhile, 57 percent of those surveyed felt they were disrespected in the workplace.