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Transcript
00:00:02 Speaker 2: Hi, is this Charles?
00:00:03 Speaker 1: This is he.
00:00:04 Speaker 2: Hi Charles, my name is Carrie Cummings.
00:00:06 Speaker 2: I work in associate relations here at the Home Depot.
00:00:09 Speaker 1: Yes, ma’am.
00:00:10 Speaker 2: Give me one second.
00:00:11 Speaker 2: I’m just gonna pull your DHR and Abby in so hold on one quick second.
00:00:14 Speaker 1: OK.
00:00:18 Speaker 2: All right, Abby, are you there?
00:00:20 Speaker 2: I am excellent and Charles are you still on?
00:00:23 Speaker 1: I am yes, ma’am.
00:00:25 Speaker 2: OK.
00:00:25 Speaker 3: Hi Charles
00:00:26 Speaker 1: How are you all doing today?
00:00:28 Speaker 2: We’re doing well.
00:00:29 Speaker 2: We’re good, we’re good, Charles.
00:00:30 Speaker 2: Thank you for your patience, uhm.
00:00:33 Speaker 2: So like I said, my name is Carrie Cummings.
00:00:35 Speaker 2: I work in associate relations here at the Home Depot.
00:00:38 Speaker 2: I’m not sure if you’re totally familiar with associate relations, but we are Home Depot associates.
00:00:44 Speaker 2: However, we’re a separate, independent group if you will.
00:00:47 Speaker 2: We’re not tide.
00:00:48 Speaker 2: A specific store or district or region.
00:00:51 Speaker 2: And sometimes we’re.
00:00:52 Speaker 2: Called upon to to investigate concerns that get escalated.
00:00:57 Speaker 2: Out of stores.
00:00:58 Speaker 2: And which is why I’m on the line today.
00:01:00 Speaker 2: I know you’ve been communicating with Abby, and Abby had learned of some concerns within the store that she had escalated to our team for investigation, which we’ve been handling from the beginning.
00:01:12 Speaker 2: Uhm, Charles before.
00:01:13 Speaker 2: We get started and kind of get into everything here.
00:01:16 Speaker 2: Uhm, I just want to explain two things.
00:01:18 Speaker 2: Please remember two things at Home Depot, #1.
00:01:22 Speaker 2: Is we have 0 tolerance for retaliation.
00:01:24 Speaker 2: At Home Depot.
00:01:26 Speaker 2: That means someone can’t be treated any differently because they reported a concern or because of a shared information.
00:01:32 Speaker 2: During this investigation and also confidentiality, I would just ask that through the duration of my investigation, you try and refrain from engaging in conversation with others on this topic as it may impede on the outcome, OK.
00:01:47 Speaker 1: OK.
00:01:48 Speaker 2: Alright, excellent so Charles, what I’m gonna do.
00:01:51 Speaker 2: I’m gonna start by asking.
00:01:52 Speaker 1: Let me interject this to your two points.
00:01:54 Speaker 1: I want to go on record as saying I have not done that.
00:01:58 Speaker 2: Sure, yes.
00:01:59 Speaker 2: I’m aware of that, right?
00:02:01 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I remind every time I do an investigation everyone I speak with.
00:02:05 Speaker 2: I remind everyone that’s standard.
00:02:06 Speaker 2: For our investigations.
00:02:09 Speaker 2: Uhm, so Charles, how long have you worked for Home Depot?
00:02:13 Speaker 1: Well, that’s an interesting conversational question that I think the records show January 31st is my start date of 2019.
00:02:22 Speaker 1: There are other records that would indicate it was like February 1st, so let’s just say February. Since February of 2019.
00:02:29 Speaker 2: OK, alright got it.
00:02:32 Speaker 2: So just about 3, uh, actually three years now.
00:02:34 Speaker 1: Yes, ma’am.
00:02:35 Speaker 2: And your role at.
00:02:37 Speaker 2: The Home Depot is is.
00:02:38 Speaker 2: It cashier, is that correct?
00:02:40 Speaker 1: That’s right.
00:02:41 Speaker 2: OK, excellent so getting on into the point of our call it was brought to our attention by associates.
00:02:48 Speaker 2: That you had written a.
00:02:49 Speaker 2: Book called Ode to the front end and in this book I’m sure some things about Home Depot are mentioned, but what we’re focusing on more is that their names were included in your book.
00:02:59 Speaker 2: So we just have some questions.
00:03:01 Speaker 2: That we want to ask you and and I’ll and I’ll.
00:03:04 Speaker 2: Start by asking are you familiar with our respect policy?
00:03:09 Speaker 1: I’m aware of it.
00:03:10 Speaker 1: I don’t know that I know it.
00:03:13 Speaker 2: OK, what would be your understanding of our respect policy?
00:03:19 Speaker 1: I have no idea to be honest with you.
00:03:22 Speaker 1: I have no idea.
00:03:23 Speaker 2: OK, alright, when we look at.
00:03:26 Speaker 2: The book that you had written and published.
00:03:29 Speaker 2: Did you?
00:03:30 Speaker 2: Use coworker names.
00:03:32 Speaker 1: At first name only.
00:03:36 Speaker 2: OK.
00:03:37 Speaker 2: And what was the purpose of writing the book?
00:03:39 Speaker 1: That was a creative endeavor.
00:03:44 Speaker 2: And if there’s any pauses, I apologize.
00:03:46 Speaker 2: I’m just typing notes.
00:03:49 Speaker 2: By chance, are you receiving any royalties from writing the book?
00:03:52 Speaker 1: Not as of today.
00:03:58 Speaker 2: And did did you happen to have any conversations prior to publishing the book with any coworkers or maybe leaders?
00:04:06 Speaker 1: Not that I would call.
00:04:12 Speaker 2: OK.
00:04:14 Speaker 2: Did you ask permission or feedback on using their?
00:04:17 Speaker 2: Names in the book.
00:04:19 Speaker 1: No, ma’am.
00:04:23 Speaker 2: And in this.
00:04:24 Speaker 2: Book uhm, we also see that you had used some proprietary information, examples, some pictures.
00:04:29 Speaker 2: Of the Home Depot.
00:04:31 Speaker 2: Did you happen to get permission for that?
00:04:33 Speaker 1: I happen to have gone to a attorney who specializes in trademarks and copyrights, and he assured me the picture that’s on the cover of the book was not protected, so you’ll have to argue with him.
00:04:43 Speaker 2: OK.
00:04:48 Speaker 2: He specializes in what I’m sorry.
00:04:49 Speaker 1: Let’s trademark that in some copyrights.
00:04:54 Speaker 2: OK.
00:04:56 Speaker 2: Uhm, has anyone given you any feedback by chance?
00:05:00 Speaker 2: Or maybe a response about the book that you.
00:05:02 Speaker 1: Know those were private conversations.
00:05:04 Speaker 1: And I’m not going.
00:05:05 Speaker 1: To share those with you because.
00:05:06 Speaker 1: They were intended to be confidential.
00:05:11 Speaker 2: Got it and the language and the descriptions that.
00:05:14 Speaker 2: You use in the book can.
00:05:15 Speaker 2: You, though, understand how it may be viewed as disrespectful, UM, or maybe an.
00:05:20 Speaker 2: Issue with some of your coworkers.
00:05:23 Speaker 1: No, I really can’t.
00:05:26 Speaker 1: It’s the truth.
00:05:32 Speaker 2: There is a lot of sensitive information relative to associates, so I guess I’m just trying to understand.
00:05:38 Speaker 2: You know your.
00:05:39 Speaker 2: Thought process in exposing something like this.
00:05:42 Speaker 2: What made?
00:05:42 Speaker 2: You do this.
00:05:44 Speaker 1: That’s unfortunately not any of your business.
00:05:47 Speaker 1: That’s my answer.
00:05:51 Speaker 2: And how do you?
00:05:52 Speaker 2: Think maybe this can be perceived as a potential respect violation.
00:05:57 Speaker 1: I have no comment one way or the other.
00:06:00 Speaker 2: OK, got it.
00:06:01 Speaker 1: Again, it’s three.
00:06:02 Speaker 1: It’s true, it’s true.
00:06:07 Speaker 2: Uhm, did you maybe?
00:06:08 Speaker 2: Not see this as a violation of someone.
00:06:11 Speaker 2: I see it as a violation when you’re discussing someone health condition.
00:06:15 Speaker 1: Again, I can.
00:06:16 Speaker 2: Autoglym chemo.
00:06:18 Speaker 1: Sure, I cannot answer that question.
00:06:20 Speaker 1: Never gave it a thought.
00:06:25 Speaker 2: OK.
00:06:27 Speaker 2: And through a series of interviews during this investigation, we were told that you’re planning on writing additional books about Home Depot.
00:06:35 Speaker 2: Is this the case?
00:06:37 Speaker 1: Again, I’m not sure that you’re entitled to the.
00:06:39 Speaker 1: Answer to that question.
00:06:42 Speaker 2: OK.
00:06:47 Speaker 2: And then also in your book.
00:06:49 Speaker 2: You, there’s a comment towards the end and you’re discussing a chair being knocked over a noose around the neck.
00:06:56 Speaker 2: Kick out a chair.
00:06:57 Speaker 2: Required intervention.
00:06:59 Speaker 2: Uh, this action, correct?
00:07:01 Speaker 2: Leaving management swinging not.
00:07:03 Speaker 2: Hanging, would you?
00:07:04 Speaker 2: Be open to sharing what that meant.
00:07:06 Speaker 1: Well, I think everybody who reads the poem will have to bring what they have to the pole and they can glean from that whatever they choose to glean from it.
00:07:16 Speaker 2: OK.
00:07:19 Speaker 1: And by the way, you did not quote.
00:07:21 Speaker 1: That standard correctly.
00:07:23 Speaker 2: I probably didn’t.
00:07:25 Speaker 2: Have you thought about your relationships with other associates named in this book?
00:07:31 Speaker 2: If you were to return to the store?
00:07:35 Speaker 1: No, I haven’t at all.
00:07:40 Speaker 2: All right?
00:07:42 Speaker 2: Charles, is there anything else that we should know or anything?
00:07:45 Speaker 2: Maybe that you would like to share with us that I haven’t specifically asked about or spoke about?
00:07:51 Speaker 1: You can buy the book, why don’t you go do so?
00:07:55 Speaker 2: Got it.
00:07:56 Speaker 2: OK.
00:07:57 Speaker 2: Uhm, Charles.
00:07:59 Speaker 2: We typically when we do conduct interviews and an investigation, you know we do ask for a statement and this is simply your opportunity to recap our conversation to make sure that mine align with yours.
00:08:12 Speaker 2: Would you be willing to write a statement?
00:08:14 Speaker 1: Well, I’ll be willing to tell you on the.
00:08:15 Speaker 1: Phone yes, ma’am.
00:08:17 Speaker 2: Well, we collect a statement in writing I have.
00:08:19 Speaker 2: Notes from our conversation.
00:08:21 Speaker 1: OK.
00:08:22 Speaker 1: Well, how am I going to do that since?
00:08:24 Speaker 1: I’m not allowed in the store.
00:08:26 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think the best thing you.
00:08:27 Speaker 2: Could do you have Abby’s e-mail correct?
00:08:29 Speaker 1: Yes, ma’am.
00:08:31 Speaker 2: Yeah, if you want just.
00:08:31 Speaker 2: Go ahead and send that to Abby and I’ll make sure that she gets that over to me.
00:08:35 Speaker 2: So I can just put it in my case files.
00:08:37 Speaker 1: Right that statement will be and I’ll just go ahead and say it’s a one sentence statement.
00:08:41 Speaker 1: I did not do him.
00:08:41 Speaker 2: Got it.
00:08:42 Speaker 1: I did not do it.
00:08:43 Speaker 1: I did not.
00:08:44 Speaker 1: Do it, and that’s my statement.
00:08:45 Speaker 2: You did not.
00:08:46 Speaker 2: You did not do what?
00:08:47 Speaker 1: If anything that you’ve talked about today.
00:08:50 Speaker 2: OK.
00:08:50 Speaker 1: And anything they cast any aspersions on other people, any wrongdoing?
00:08:54 Speaker 1: I did not do it, period.
00:08:59 Speaker 2: And Abby, any questions that you have.
00:09:04 Speaker 2: No, ma’am.
00:09:06 Speaker 2: Alright Charles I I.
00:09:07 Speaker 2: Appreciate, UM, I appreciate you taking some time to speak with us. I know you’ve been sitting at home and we’re trying to get this resolved quickly, so within I would say at least the next 2448 hours we will make sure that we get back with you just so you know where everything stands. If you have any questions in the meantime.
00:09:26 Speaker 2: You’re welcome to call me directly.
00:09:27 Speaker 2: This is my phone number and you’re also welcome to reach out to Abby, OK.
00:09:31 Speaker 2: Right?
00:09:31 Speaker 1: OK, well well what if I have any questions while I go through Abby?
00:09:34 Speaker 1: That way we have a consistent chain of command would.
00:09:36 Speaker 1: That be OK.
00:09:37 Speaker 2: Yeah, no problem at all.
00:09:39 Speaker 1: Yeah, just keep it simple.
00:09:41 Speaker 2: Sounds good, thank you Charles I appreciate your time.
00:09:44 Speaker 1: Well, when the resolution comes and any ideas for what the next step will be?
00:09:50 Speaker 2: That depends on what the resolution is, so I’m going to take some partners around this and you know at that time we’ll make sure we keep you fully informed on what’s happening and if you have any questions at that time or any issues we can certainly discuss that.
00:10:04 Speaker 1: OK ma’am, thank you for your time.
00:10:05 Speaker 1: It’s great talking to all of you.
00:10:07 Speaker 1: And again I want it for reporting purposes and then record the record.
00:10:10 Speaker 1: I did not do.
00:10:11 Speaker 1: And you all have a nice day.
00:10:13 Speaker 2: Alright, thank you Charles.