Lowe's gave a 68-year-old woman her job back after she was terminated in June because she tried to stop thieves at a Georgia location.
Donna Hansbrough was let go after she attempted to stop at least three shoplifters who made off with over $2,000 in unpaid products on June 25.
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Hansbrough grabbed the cart of one of the shoplifters and was struck multiple times in the face, leaving her with a black eye.
"The cart that Donna grabbed was in the possession of subject Takyah BERRY," the Rincon Police Department said in a statement. "After Donna grabbed the cart, BERRY struck Donna in the face three times, causing Donna's right eye to swell and blacken. The total value of the merchandise that was stolen is $2,101.00. The two male subjects were identified as Jarmar LAWTON and Joseph BERRY. Joseph and Takyah are uncle and niece."
"The Lowe's employee, Donna Hansbrough, was fired for attempting to stop the theft. Lowe's stated that Donna's actions (grabbing the cart) was a violation of their policy and Donna was terminated as a result. Donna had worked for Lowe's for 13 years."
The home improvement company confirmed the rehiring of Hansbrough on Tuesday, according to a report.
"After senior management became aware of the incident and spoke to Donna Hansbrough today, we are reinstating her job and we are pleased that she has accepted the offer to return to Lowe's," Lowe's said in a statement.
"First and foremost, there's nothing more important than the safety of our customers and associates. Products can be replaced; people cannot. We continue to work closely with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for this theft and violent attack."
Retail theft continues to plague businesses throughout the country, and Hansbrough's firing came in the wake of two former Lululemon employees who were terminated after intervening in a May store robbery in Georgia.
Unlike Lowe's, Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald defended the terminations.
"Retail theft and shrinkage has been a growing topic," he said. "In this particular case, we have a zero-tolerance policy that we train our educators on around engaging during a theft."
"Why? Because we put the safety of our team, of our guests, front and center."
The products being stolen are only merchandise, according to McDonald.
"At the end, [employees] are trained to step back, let the theft occur, know that there's technology and there's cameras, and we're working with law enforcement," he said. "Unfortunately, in this situation, the educators knowingly broke the policy, engaged with the theft, the thieves, across multiple points."
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The employees followed the thieves out of the store, McDonald said.
"Post-investigation, in the zero-tolerance policy, which is well known, that was what resulted in the termination."