This happened last summer at the largest theme park in Canada, where I worked as a merchandise associate.
While I am not a Team Lead (although I have been offered but refused because of family issues) I am the only associate who has been in Merchandise for 3 years so often times my coworkers come to me with problems as I can’t punish them for mistakes.
I am working on the stores back room.
Coworker: [My Name] I need you!
Me: Why? What’s wrong?
Coworker: [Coworker #2] left a chemical cleaning bottle on the counter when she went to get more paper towel and a mom saw it and got angry. She’s threatening to swallow the chemicals and sue us for leaving harmful chemicals in the reach of young kids. Something about malpractice. I think she’s just quoting stuff she heard on law shows.
Me: But the women drinking it is doing it on her own free will and she’s a reasonae adult! What the hell?!
*run with coworker to woman*
Woman: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! ANYONE COULDVE GRABBED THIS BOTTLE AND SWALLOWED IT! DO YOU LIKE KIDS DYING?! DO YOU? HMMM?!
Me: Ma’am I am so sorry for the mistake. We don’t normally leave bottle like this lying around. I’ll be sure to talk to the associate and make-
Woman: YOURE A BUNCH OF KID KILLERS! ILL SWALLOW THIS TO TEACH YA’LL A LESSON! I WILL! DONT TEST ME!
Me: Now there’s no need for that. We can handle this-
Woman: SHUT UP! UNLESS YOU CAN RESURRECT DEAD CHILDREN YOURE USELESS!
Coworker: *to me* Can’t we just grab it from her?
Me: No, it’ll probably just aggravate her. Where’s the Team Leads?
Coworker: Break.
Me: BOTH?!
Coworker: [Coworker #3] had a variance and [Team Lead #1] was counting really slowly. They were going to hit their 5.
This theme park makes sure all merchandise associates have a 40 min break every 4 hours. If they miss it they must get a break before they work 5 hours or they’ll get called in by a supervisor.
Me: Try calling a Team Lead, anyone who’ll answer, and I’ll get security.
I run out of the store and look for any security on duty. I see two at a game across from me. I explain the situation to them and they radio for First Aid, in case it’s needed.
The two security guards and I run back to the store where the woman is still holding the bottle of chemicals and screaming.
Me: Ma’am I understand your worry for your kids-
Woman: NO YOU DONT! YOU DONT HAVE KIDS! THIS MOTHERF*CKING PARK DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT OUR SAFTEY!! IM GONNA TEACH ALL OF YA A LESSON!
First aid arrived and started to try to calm the woman down.
Security #2: Where’s your Team Leads?
Coworker: Break. They have 20 minutes left.
Security #2: BOTH?!
Coworker: We’re supposed to call [other store] for their Team Lead but no ones answering the phone and I didn’t want to leave the store.
Security #2: *muttering swear words* I’ll radio them over.
In the end, first aid and security restrained her and took her to their medical tent where police and paramedics took over from there. I was never subpoenaed to court so I’m assuming no lawyer would take on her court case.