They'd Have Plenty to Talk About

It seems likely that in the three weeks since Sherwin-Williams chief executive Heidi Petz announced that her company would no longer match their employee’s 401(k) contributions that I have spoken to more Sherwin employees than the company’s chief executive.

But if she wants to know what they’re saying, she can read about it here.

Since that news broke I have been contacted by several hundred employees at Sherwin-Williams with titles ranging from Vice-Presidents in Cleveland to second drivers in store.  Nearly all have shared contempt for Petz, with some sharing the specifics of her company’s contemptible behaviors.   

Sherwin’s mistreatment of their employees is nothing new. Their malfeasance is so dependable in-fact that since 2001 Sherwin-Williams has paid more than $208 million in fines for dozens of violations of federal and state laws, including more than $80 million in fines for crimes against their own employees.

Still not enough though to teach leadership there a lesson. 

Among the fines Sherwin has paid was a $1 million in 2023 to resolve a False Claims Act allegation that the company had participated in a scheme to defraud the federal government and to “deprive legitimate disadvantaged businesses” from opportunities set aside for them. 

Because just defrauding the federal government was not enough.   

And it’s not just the federal government which accuses Sherwin of misdeeds.  In a pattern which goes back decades Sherwin-Williams has been accused of illegality by consumers, commercial customers, cities, states and small towns. And most recently by another paint manufacturer who claims that they too have been a victim of Sherwin-Williams’ ways.

In a filing served earlier this month Carboline accuses Sherwin-Williams of falsely advertising the mil thickness necessary for their Firetex FX9502 paint to provide promised protection.  Their claim states that Sherwin did so knowingly, ignoring facts they possess and in the process cost Carboline opportunity to make those sales. The suit further alleges that Sherwin’s fraud has left “buildings across the country without fire protection.”

Because just screwing Carboline wasn’t enough either.

Considering Sherwin’s ethics Carboline’s claim seems plausible.  Add in how little Sherwin seems to know about fireproof paint and the case seems open-and-shut case.

Carboline is owned by RPM, the country’s third largest paint maker with sales of more than $7 billion annually. RPM also owns Zinsser, Rust-oleum, Dap, Varathane and a dozen other brands of similar reputation though slightly less notoriety. 

RPM’s CEO Frank C. Sullivan is the grandson of that firms founder and sits on the board of the American Coatings Association with Petz, perhaps changing the vibe at that groups next meeting. 

If they can’t get along Benjamin Moore CEO Dan Calkins might have to separate the two leaving Petz to take a seat next to Pittsburgh’s CEO Brian Carson, like Calkins also a member of that board. 

And Carson and Petz would have plenty to talk about. 

Among employees from the stores many complain of wage theft practices including refusal to pay overtime, being forced to work hours without pay, days without breaks or in unsafe working conditions.  Most who make that claim add that were they to speak up retribution would be certain.  Accusations which are nearly identical to those made by employees in California in 2020 before Sherwin settled their claims and paying a fine of $3.65 million.

Conduct also alleged by employees in HQ though in far fewer numbers.

Trolling the sub-Reddit for Sherwin-Williams employees continues to provide limitless access to the victims of these crimes. Many are happy to share their experience, though understandably none have been willing to do so without maintaining anonymity.

And while my posts on that page have generally found favor not all who engage are hitting the like button.  Contrarians and other defenders of Sherwin’s ways have trolled back, including one post which would have made my mother kvell.  Proud that I embraced one of most enduring lessons; to always use a thesaurus while writing. 

And to be succinct, which gives me something to work on.      

My mother would have encouraged this type of reporting and activism, though her encouragement would have come with a reminder to respect boundaries rather than risk a cease-and-desist or some other legal response. 

A year since her passing others now fill that role, there advice updated for the changes that year has brought.