Carrefour store in Brazil covered a dead employee with umbrellas so they could stay open throughout the day.
On August 14, Manoel Moisés Cavalcante died of a heart attack while at his workplace – a Carrefour supermarket in Recife, Brazil. Tragically, even after being given first aid, Mr. Cavalcante could not be revived, UNILAD reveals.
Shockingly, instead of calling an ambulance, the store’s staff members placed three large umbrellas and several boxes around the body so it couldn’t be seen by customers. This outrageous behavior was in a bid to avoid closing the supermarket, which would’ve harmed the business.
CARREFOUR EMPLOYEE LIES DEAD HERE IN BRAZIL, BEER AISLE, FOR 4 HOURS WITH STORE OPEN pic.twitter.com/jamnWbpZ5A
— The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) August 19, 2020
In the following hours after Mr. Cavalcante’s tragic death, shoppers didn’t suspect what was covered under the large umbrellas. However, some of them noticed this display of products was quite unusual. Pictures of the shocking scene emerged all over social media, with netizens slamming Carrefour Brazil for the way they treated their employee.
An employee dies at a Carrefour in Brazil.
The store just covered the body with umbrellas and boxes so they could stay open while they wait for someone to take him away.This is capitalism. pic.twitter.com/EaX6a6etmX
— Anarchist 💣Federation ❤🖤 (@AnarchistFed) August 20, 2020
In response to the massive fury over the sickening incident, Carrefour Brasil apologized for the way their staff members handled the situation.
They also explained that the employees were following instructions stating the body should not be moved. In an official statement, the company said:
“Carrefour apologizes for the inappropriate way it handled the sad and unexpected passing of Mr Moisés Santos, victim of a heart attack, in Recife store. The company made a mistake by not closing the store immediately after what happened, as well did not find the correct way to protect Mr Moses’ body.
We reinforce that as soon as the sales prooter started to feel sick, we did the first aid and we activated SAMU, following all protocols for performing relief quickly. After the death, we followed the instruction not to remove the body from the place.
Carrefour also reiterates that it changed the guidelines to employees for rare situations such as including the mandatory closing of the store – with aim of bringing more sensitivity and respect. We will continue to contact the family of Mr Moses to support you in whatever is necessary and our sympathies in this difficult time.”
Nota Oficial do Carrefour pic.twitter.com/t4i1h0iPUq
— Carrefour Brasil (@carrefourbrasil) August 19, 2020
Speaking to the news outlet G1, Mr. Cavalcante’s wife condemned the retail corporation, saying:
“I was outraged. The human being is worthless, people only care about money… At the moment, they did not think about the human being, they only thought about the money. It is a horrible feeling.”
Following the saddening incident on August 14, the company has implied changes to its protocol. The new order states that a store should be closed immediately in similar ‘rare situations’.
