Hello all! It’s been a while since I’ve made a petition. It all started back in my freshman year of high school, with trying to keep American Sign Language as a second language option. 

I bring forth an issue that’s made me, my store, and my customers angry, and upset.

 

I currently work at Joann’s Fabrics & Crafts in La Cañada Flintridge in CA. Before holding a managerial position, I shopped at this specific location for years. Many things kept me coming back; Impeccable customer service, Amazing selection, but most of all, the lovable pup found at the cut bar—Sherpa.
 

I’ve brought many of my friends to this location, and they now only return if they know Sherpa will be there assisting them. 

Thursday, December 1st, 2022, Sherpa’s owner and long time friend, Jenna, received the unfortunate news that Sherpa is not permitted on the premises, since she belongs to an employee, rather than a customer.

 


“Why now?” You may wonder; and that’s a great question. Sherpa has worked at this store for over a year at this point, and during that time, she has met many of our customers, as well as some team members and even store managers from other Joann’s locations. When these Joann’s employees met Sherpa, a separate team member pet policy was never brought up, and no one mentioned that having her there even remotely caused any problems. Her presence was only brought into question during a store audit that took place over two weeks prior to the December 1st phone call.

 

You may be also thinking that maybe there have been complaints as to Sherpa’s presence in the store, but there have not been. If anything, our store has been complimented on its inclusion of sherpa, especially with a big tag on the front doors indicating that the store is “pet friendly”. 

 

For months, Joann’s has promoted a toxic work environment among many of its locations, causing MULTIPLE store managers within our district to quit in quick succession. This has forced Jenna (the assistant store manager) to act as the full store manager since late October, without any increase in pay or assistance, while the person recently hired on for the job is working to run another, more profitable Joann’s location while it looks for new management.

 

It’s clearer than ever that corporate cares very little about our location, and is unwilling to work with stores on an individual basis, even for small issues like having a dog on the premises. Forcing Sherpa out of our location is the last straw.

 

 Please, if you have a minute to sign and share, please do so. We don’t want to lose Sherpa, and neither should you!

 

Jenna (Manager and owner), wanted to tag on a statement of her own. below is her statement.

 

Having Sherpa with me at the store is the only reason I’m able to work the long shifts required  for me to barely keep the La Cañada location running, since I’ve had to work through breaks due to the labor budget being so tiny. My employees are burnt out, and as a store, we don’t feel valued by the company at all. Sherpa helps bring a smile to their faces and is always there to remind everyone that they are loved and cared about. 

 

Joann’s as a company has pet friendly stores. It is written in our policies, and displayed on the door to every Joann’s store. Additionally, the only ‘pet policy’ listed in our handbook does NOT clearly distinguish that this policy only applies to customers, and not team members as well. I was told that it’s ‘inherent in the policy’ that it only applies to the customer and not the team member, but I located no other clearly marked pet policy regarding team members having animals in the store or on store grounds. 

 

She’s brought joy to so many of our customers as well, but as a registered emotional support animal, she lacks the rank of ‘service dog’ that would give her clearance to be at the store without question. I’m currently fighting to get her presence in the store approved by corporate, but in the meantime I’ve been told she allowed on the premises. This means she will be spending 8-10 hour days at home alone while I slave over a store that has been set up to fail.