No matter the road conditions, some people are expected to be at work. But some who work for stores at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester say they’re being forced to work because of language in their employers’ leases that states they will be fined if their stores are not open when the mall is.
“Security guards have told us in the past that we will be fined if we close early,” said Josh Harrington, who is an assistant manager for one of the mall’s tenants.
Mall management declined comment, but their public relations firm, Weinberg Harris and Associates, told FOX CT that the mall does not fine its tenants. In fact, they say that the regional managers for each tenant determine when their stores will open and close.
A local activist group, Activate CT, has partnered with Harrington and other people who work at the mall in making it known that they feel the lease language makes it clear that management and ownership are taking a profits over people stance.
Rebecca Burton, a member of Activate CT, said Nancy Murray, the general manager of The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, told her fines are indeed included in the leases, but they vary.
“What I was told by Nancy is that it depends on the store. But that a lot of stores do have fines in their leases that are levied in case of the stores closing due to bad weather,” said Burton.
Facebook response to Harrington’s claims has been rapid and passionate because, as storms mount, so does frustration.
“Shouldn’t non-essential workers include people who work at the mall,” wrote one woman on the Buckland Hills Facebook page.
Westfarms mall and Westfield Shopping Town, in both Trumbull and Meriden, were closed for the entire day Thursday. The Shoppes at Buckland Hills were open until 2 p.m.
Watch Matt Scott’s Report On New Haven Businesses Remaining Open During The Storm