The first time I heard my manager say "let it all fail", I was shocked. I was younger, naive, and couldnt comprehend what a superior was saying. He was right. In hindsight, and now as an older person, the man was saying - "force change by allowing collapse."
Lowes is no different. Ive addressed issues politely and professionally. The outcome? I was labeled and targeted. Once you see the true face of Lowe's, you'll understand its all a sham. Its all bullchit, lies, and a facade. No one is in charge, no one cares about violations, and HR is definitely not there for "you!"
The best thing any employee can do in this environment is nothing. Do as little as possible. You actually have Lowe's by the balls. All you have to do is send a manager, HR, corp, etc an email stating whats going on politely - that you have no staff, and so short-handed you are pulled away from your primary responsibility daily and then blamed for not doing them! This is unfair and unethical business practices, and now you have a record of it. Make sure to cc your home email so you always have a copy.
You need to be shrewd in todays business climate. Not just with Lowe's, but everywhere. You be shrewd by forcing management to be ethical. Point out they are subordinating your primary responsibilities as laid out by corporate for daily "needs of the store", making completion of your responsibilities impossible. How can they write you up when they knowingly use you elsewhere? They only get away with this facade because you let them. You need to document, email, and force change.
Report everything! Go higher and higher, all the way to Carvin Marvin if necessary. Emails are proof, and management HATES emails because it exposes them and their incompetence.
But by not covering yourself, now you've given them the upper hand to write you up or terminate you. There will be no record of their misdeeds, and unethical behaviors unless you record it all and expose it all.
I practice what I preach. I call out bad managers daily, for 10 years now. Im still with Lowes, they are not.
But to complain on here daily, like so many of you do, while doing nothing and encouraging the unethical business practices is hypocrisy. Either do something about all your complaints, or STFU.