Sometimes You Are Prompted To Break The Rules

Summary

An Instacart shopper disregarded company policy to deliver groceries inside an elderly customer's home, potentially saving his life by alerting his family to a leaking propane tank.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an Instacart employee went beyond her job's scope to help an elderly customer, demonstrating that sometimes adhering strictly to rules can be detrimental. Despite company policy prohibiting entering customers' homes, she followed her instincts and brought the groceries inside, where she noticed the man was unwell and that there was a propane tank indoors—a dangerous combination. Her actions led to the discovery of a leaking propane tank, which could have been fatal. The customer's daughter credited the worker with saving her father and brother's lives, increasing her tip from $14 to$ 100 and praising her online. The incident highlights the importance of using judgment and compassion in situations where the rules may not adequately address the human element.

Opinions

The Instacart shopper's decision to enter the customer's home was driven by a strong intuition that something was amiss, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's instincts in certain situations.
The article suggests that rules should not be blindly followed if they conflict with ethical considerations or potential harm to individuals, as shown by the shopper's life-saving intervention.
The public's response, including that of some celebrities, was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the value of good samaritan acts and the recognition that such actions deserve.
The incident underscores a broader message that many people quietly perform acts of kindness and heroism in their daily jobs without seeking recognition.
The author implies that services like Instacart, which became more prevalent during the pandemic, can offer more than just convenience; they can also provide a critical lifeline to vulnerable populations.
The article concludes with a safety reminder about the dangers of storing propane tanks indoors, highlighting the importance of public awareness regarding household safety hazards.

It could save someone’s life

Groceries can be delivered

When you are working at a job, you normally want to do a good job. That means adhering to the rules of the company. It means you would not knowingly and purposely break the rules.

There may be times when you are prompted to go against the rules. Your better judgment may tell you that you need to make an exception and to follow your instincts even if it means that you are going against policy.

With the COVID pandemic going on for two years, many people have resorted to having groceries delivered. It is also a way for the elderly to get the food they need without having to go out and shop.

One of the means that people use to do their shopping is called Instacart. Besides going through grocery stores themselves, they can have a shopper employed by Instacart do the shopping for them.

Rachel Paula Abrahamson wrote on Today about: “Instacart shopper being hailed as a hero for likely saving elderly customer’s life.”

A woman had ordered food to be delivered to her elderly father. She placed the order with a woman who is an Instacart employee. The woman was to deliver the groceries to the father’s home and leave them on the porch.

When the employee got to the home, she was impressed that she should to inside the house, which was against the rules of the company. She said:

“I got there and something was telling me, ‘You’ve got to help this man out.’ You’re not supposed to go inside someone’s house, but I used my judgment and I brought the groceries inside.”

She noticed that the man was not well. She messaged the daughter to let her know that he looked sick and that there was a propane tank in the home.

The woman said she would have her son come by. She later said that the son went by and the propane tank was leaking. She credited the Instacart worker with saving her dad and her younger son’s lives.

The worker said people should say something if they see something. She is happy that she did.

The customer changed the tip on the order from $14 to $100.

The worker had comments and responses from many people, including some famous people who praised her for her actions.

As a side note, the article stated that propane gas is highly flammable. Tanks should never be stored indoors.

There are many good people in this world who go about quietly doing their jobs. They may even save lives in the process.