Report Filed: Gibson Motor Terry Pettit I trusted my employment and thousands of dollars of tools of my trade to a company that wouldnt even release them to my wife stating legalities. Now they say they arent responsible Abilene, Texas!!
I was working for Gibson Motor under Raymond. Raymond had been working for the company for 18 years. I had to take a leave of absence and was told to leave my tools and they would be safe and my employment held during my leave. A couple of weeks into my leave Raymond the shop manager called my wife and told her that he quit. He told her she should probably go get my tools. She went to the shop and the office personel stated that the owner George Gibson had to be present when she took the tools. George Gibson met her at the shop where the tools were.The two of them inventoried the tools and all were accounted for. George asked her why she was taking the tools, wasnt I going to return to work. She said yes he wants to come back but she thought since Raymond was gone that meant he was gone too. George Gibson said I want him to come back to work. She said good but do you want me to take the tools so they arent in the way and she stated that she worried about them being safe since Raymond was no longer there. Mr. Gibson said we just went through them all and they are all there, where would they go. They are safe. A couple weeks later Mr. Gibson was killed in a train accident. My wife went to the shop as soon as they re-opened after the funeral. Terri Pettit, George Gibsons daughter, told my wife that she couldnt release the tools to her. That she was liable for them. She said that I had to pick the tools up myself. She also asked didnt I want my job back and my wife stated yes. After my leave was up I returnd to work and they were moving the shop to another Gibson location. I was helping with the move. Once I located my tool box I noticed that a significant amount of my tools were gone. I spoke to the manager Jason Petitt who said im sure they are around here somewhere and said we will be sure you have all that you need to work. A day later I was fired. The reason was that I wasnt moving the equipment to the new location fast enough. I asked what they were going to do about my tools and they said we are not responsible. Very sad that employers can do whatever they want to lowly employee. My tools were all I had!!
