Here is my story of discrimination as an employee of Mattress Firm. My name is Michael I am a gay male living with HIV. I am very professional in my sales approach and try to bring good work ethics and ideals with me. I believe in treating my customers and co-workers with respect and dignity. I try to bring a sense of morality to the sales industry and was not properly supported by management in the 4 years of employment at MATTRESS FIRM. I tolerated a hostile and confrontational management that would not properly recognize my accomplishments or contributions to the company, customers and fellow co workers.

I was a salesperson working at Mattress Firm in the Austin Market. My last position was rotating stores as a manager on duty. I had successfully been a store manager of a low volume store location on 4 different occasions. I had also managed a high volume store location and exceeded budget 6 out of the 9 months in 2006 when I worked there. I was relieved of that duty in November, 06 for scoring too low on a secret shopper report. BUT I was averaging 6-7k a month income near the end of 06' which meant I was meeting if not exceeding every company standard.

I was more than just an employee. I had been a good friend to several of my co-workers, I had been to their weddings, I had partied outside of work with them, I had prevented several people from quitting, I had even taken in a straight co-worker when he went through a divorce and needed a place to stay temporarily until the house he had with his ex-wife had together, sold. I was always there to work an extra day if one of my co-workers needed time to spend with their family. I always sold with ethics and would give proper credit to a co-worker when writing up a sale if the customer came in to purchase and they were not present. Everyone who worked with me knew I would always do the right thing.

In November, 2007, I developed a very bad upper respiratory infection that had lingered for 3 weeks. I was coughing all the time and had developed a slight fracture in my ribs from the effort. It was obvious to everyone that I was burned out mentally and physically. I required time off to rest but was not able because of the merger that was happening. I had lost 6 days of work and according to company policy a Dr note is required. I had one but my DM said it was not needed... I continued to work even though co-worked were complaining that I was potentially gonna make them sick. I was NOT given time off. I believe they were trying to break me and get me to quit, so as not to pay me unemployment.

I did indeed file and was approved. Unemployment said that their investigation found that I my termination was not because of misconduct of the work. HMMM... wouldn’t neglecting to lock a store door, an essential part of the work be considered misconduct, especially since it was a friable offense and a violation of company policies?

In February 2007, a new District Manager had been put into place and I lost the needed support when I disclosed my HIV status. I tried to befriend her and offer her advice on the shift of management and give her insight into the culture of the market she was taking over. I tried to make the transition smooth for her and barely received a thank you or show of appreciation for my efforts. I was asked to get one of the stores ready for Labor Day because they had just placed a very new employee in the position of management and had not the experience I had. I had managed that location on several occassions during the Labor day sale and knew what type of business that store was capable of generating. That store did indeed hit budget and in fact ran out of stock since my suggestions for what I said they needed was not respected or taken seriously. I never received any recognition for my part in making that sales event successful for that location.

Over the next several months I was scheduled in mainly low volume stores and watched my income drop in half. I quickly went from a 6-7k income to barely making 3k. I had received national recognition for winning 2 sales contests that were both lasting several weeks and were based on volume of sales of a particular vendor that were considered luxury products. The last weeks of contest I was placed in low volume stores and did not win as a result.

I was continually overlooked for advancement into high volume stores, while I watched NEW salespeople with less than 4 months of work history and proven sales figures be moved into these positions, even though my sales figures were consistently above theirs. I had written numerous emails to management begging to be considered. I voiced my concern and feeling of mistreatment and was told that speaking up could be detrimental to my career. Then a Second DM was brought in from Houston and I was assigned to him. I was told that my 4 yr tenure meant nothing to him and received little feedback or support in how to improve. I knew my days were numbered there.

On December 8th, 2007 exactly to the day of 4 yrs from my Hire date of December 8th. 2003 I was FIRED from Mattress Firm, supposedly for leaving a store door unlocked overnight after my shift. BUT my Area Manager when questioning me about it said I had locked other half of door and so it doesn’t make sense that I wouldn’t have locked other side? Mattress Firm had just acquired Mattress Pro through a merger and on November 27th, 2007 ALL employees received keys that opened ALL the stores in the Austin Market. This incident supposedly happened that next Wednesday evening at the end of my shift. I had been warned by a previous employee of Mattress Pro to watch my back with this merger, that the Mattress Pro people could not be trusted and were very conniving individuals.

This is my story and I am making it public. Being fired was not the worst offense either.

I have been unemployed for 3 months. I cannot get a job offer from any mattress retailer or furniture company within Austin. I have been interviewed by a few but receive nothing but rejection letters. My sexuality and HIV status has become common knowledge. Someone has also spread very negative gossip about me throughout this industry. I do not understand it either. I was a good employee who not only met sales quotas but also developed good relations with his co-workers and customers.

I don't have any great company secrets that would be a threat to Mattress Firm if I were to obtain employment at a competitor. I have been trained in their sales methods but how can this be a threat to them. I am just one man who is simply trying to provide for himself.

Every retailer that carries beds basically has a similar line up. The $900 bed in one retailer is basically the same $900 bed at any other retailer that carries that particular brand. There are slight differences in the ticking and filling but not enough to be significant.

A customer will buy mainly based on the salesperson combined with the companies policies and reputation. After reading this, you can make your own decision in who you want to give your business to.

Both my wife and I were both sent VISA cards through Mattress Firm in Oklahoma City and Wells Fargo Financial - not solicited to accept the cards - but sent the cards and registered using our personal information from the sale with no disclosure by us and now it shows on our credit - we called and they had no comment locally - called company representatives Fred Weaver and Matt Forbes and no response and no return call.