Two former employees of Lululemon, a store in Georgia, say they were fired when they called the police to report a robbery allegedly breaking store policy.

Despite the fact that the authorities were called after a group of robbers came into their local outlets, Jennifer Rogers and Ferguson were told not to intervene in the robberies, as stated by company policy.

“We didn’t truly feel adequately safeguarded or comprehend what other actions to take,” Rogers informed the nearby television station 11Alive.

Ferguson informed the publication, “Our role is to refrain from interfering.” “We essentially create a smooth course for their actions. Subsequently, we scan a QR code once the process concludes. That’s the extent of it. We’ve been instructed against documenting it in any written form, as it could potentially unsettle others. We’re discouraged from contacting law enforcement and discussing it openly.”

The former employees said they were fired over a Zoom call with regional officials from Lululemon, who stated that the company had a zero-tolerance policy regarding the reported incident. The employees mentioned that they are currently working on dealing with the sudden financial implications of their termination and hope that Lululemon is considering changing their policy.

According to a spokesperson from Lululemon, ensuring the security and safety of shoppers and staff is the company’s top priority. The company has implemented protocols and policies to maintain a safe environment and uphold the security and safety of both shoppers and staff.

The women were probably terminated for contacting the authorities instead of documenting and engaging with the criminals, as stated in the Company’s policy provided to Insider.

The statement later mentioned that the two workers were not dismissed for contacting the authorities, Lululemon. “They were terminated for consciously disregarding our policy of not getting physically involved with the culprits, which endangered their lives, as well as the safety of our customers and other employees,” the statement explained.

Lululemon At prioritizes the safety of people, which includes an absolute zero-tolerance policy for employees engaging with guests in a way that could put others or themselves in harm’s way. We are grateful that no one was hurt, and we instruct and empower our employees to call 911 when needed, as was the case in this situation where termination was not the cause.

The following day, following reports from witnesses of a robbery in a suburb of Atlanta, the local authorities informed NBC News that the three individuals captured on video committing the crime were apprehended and formally accused of serious offenses. In footage that was distributed to local news organizations and shared on various social media platforms, Ferguson and Rogers can be heard shouting at the criminals, urging them to cease their actions and vacate the premises.

Rogers told WSB-TV that she believes the string of robberies are part of a larger scheme that involves trading stolen items for cash.

The lawyer representing a group of retailers in Massachusetts told NBC news that many companies have non-interference policies when it comes to robberies that may discourage reporting incidents for a variety of reasons, including employee safety.

“Ryan Kearney informed NBC News that the next time they require someone present, it is important for them to respond quickly as they may not necessarily be able to do something else when they waste their time. They do not want to waste their time on what may be an entry-level issue like shoplifting.”

Update: May 30, 2023: This article has been revised with a fresh, extended statement from Lululemon.