This happened around a year or two ago at my last job, but I've just got to get it off my chest. I regret not telling someone about it back then.
At the time, I was working at a large chain retail store, and had been there around a year. My husband and I were newly married, and I was working part time and he was going to college full time.
After my husband had finished college, he was looking for a part time job in the area so we could both start raising money towards a big move. My work was very short staffed. We had a lot of good, qualified people leave due to some problems with management (go figure). One night when closing with my store manager, I approached him asking if we were hiring for a very specific position (I knew we were). If you've worked in a retail store, you know there are certain jobs that are typically only advertised within the store. My husband was definitely qualified- probably over qualified. It would have been perfect for us since we shared a vehicle at the time as well.
He told me that he had a special job that would better suit my husband than the one I had asked for earlier, and that we could talk about it in detail more the next day. Honestly I was a little excited- we had been having a lot of interns coming in and out, so I assumed it might be something along those lines. I went home and told my husband about it immediately.
The next day, I asked my SM about it again. He told me to try not to talk about it in front of others, which instantly raised red flags for me. He asked for my husband's number and told me he would text him with more info later that night. I kept trying to get info- but he kept stressing he didn't have the time to explain, but was soo certain that it would be a great opportunity for him. We go home and wait, still no text or call from SM.
The next day, I ask him about it again. He asks if we can all three meet up on my day off and discuss it over lunch. I'm immediately suspicious, but I trusted him as my store manager. He is very well liked and well respected, much older than us, and my husband had really been having a lot of trouble finding a job in the area (small town).
So, we drive to go meet up with him over lunch. He starts off with this awesome intro about this great opportunity he has for my husband to be his own boss. First red flag. Why didn't he mention this before? My face immediately lit up red as soon as he said the phrase. I felt so embarrassed for even roping my husband in to all this. We exchanged a look. He pulls out this book and all these papers, and starts explaining to him how much money he makes at this special side job he has, and how with the right motivation (and an investment, of course) you can end up just like him. And, the more people you recruit, the more money you can make off commission. Starts drawing grids and asking about his dreams. My husband instantly tried to shut it down, but my SM kept drawing all these diagrams and asking all these personal questions about our life and finances. I could go into detail on which pyramid scheme this was, (or as he would call it, Multi Level Marketing ….) but I'll give it a break for now.
Eventually, we get to a point where SM is finished with his “presentation” and asks him how interested he is to join. Husband gives him a big fat 0/10. SM keeps trying to convince him. It's becoming kind of pathetic. My husband even told him this sounds like a pyramid scheme- and when you google the company, all the red flags you get- and he still kept trying to explain his way out of the hole. “But this isn't a pyramid scheme! Pyramid schemes are illegal!”
After we gave him the big NO, and told him we leaving, he then tried to turn us into his customers! Trying to sell his slime. He even told us if we could refer anyone else to him who we thought WOULD join, that he would give us a cut of his commission.
At this point I am humiliated- a million thoughts running through my head. People are staring at us as the conversation becomes more heated. Why would he try to wrap us up into this knowing our financial situation? Why would he mislead me until this point, lead me to believe this would be a job at our store? Why would he NOT offer my husband a position at our store knowing how understaffed we were? Why would he drag us out to lunch on my freaking day off work? And he's trying to get us to recruit people for him?!
We left without eating anything. It was the most awkward drive home. From then on, I dreaded being in the same room as him. And he would constantly make little quips and jabs about when my husband was going to join or purchase from him. I'm so glad I left that job- especially after finding out I was not the only one to have that experience. He even tried recruiting other young girls and single moms at my job. Seriously just human scum.