Retail giant Walmart has come under fire from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for violating federal law by terminating an employee who took disability-related leave. The EEOC claims that Walmart refused to accommodate the worker and fired her because of her disability.[0] This case was filed in the North Carolina Western District Court.[0]
This is not the first time that Walmart has been accused of disability discrimination. In a similar case, the company was ordered to pay damages in another disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC.[0] Marlo Spaeth, a Walmart employee with Down syndrome who had been working there for a long time, was the beneficiary of the lawsuit.[0] Spaeth faced challenges related to her disability and requested Walmart to adjust her work schedule, but they declined to accommodate her needs.[0] Despite the intervention of Spaeth’s mother and sister, Walmart refused to rehire her.[0]
According to the complaint filed by the EEOC, Walmart was accused of breaching the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. In an effort to combat disability discrimination, the EEOC has vowed to persistently take legal action against any organization that breaches federal laws safeguarding employees with disabilities.
The recent case against Walmart involves a deli associate who suffered from Crohn’s disease. Walmart chose to excuse some of the employee’s disability-related absences but not others, including several absences for medical appointments and hospitalization, and ultimately fired her for having more absences than allowed under company policy even though she had doctor’s notes.[1]
Walmart has responded to the allegations, stating that they have been a top employer for those with disabilities for years and have thousands of associates who perform their jobs with reasonable accommodation, including applying for and receiving appropriate leave.[2] They claim they do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and take allegations like this seriously.[2]
The former Walmart employee may receive back pay and other damages from the EEOC, as well as injunctive relief to put a stop to any ongoing discriminatory practices. The EEOC is seeking monetary relief for Tucker, which includes back pay, and compensatory and punitive damages. The commission is also pursuing an injunctive relief case against Walmart in order to put an end to any ongoing discrimination.[3]
Melinda Dugas, the regional attorney for the EEOC’s Charlotte District, said in a statement, “The Americans with Disabilities Act was created to protect employees like this deli associate.”
This case highlights the importance of companies ensuring that they are not discriminating against employees with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act is in place to protect workers with disabilities and companies must adhere to it to avoid legal action. It is crucial that companies make reasonable accommodations for their employees with disabilities to ensure that they are not facing discrimination in the workplace.
0. “EEOC Takes Legal Action Against Walmart for Disability Discrimination” Best Stocks, 28 Mar. 2023, https://beststocks.com/eeoc-takes-legal-action-against-walmart-for-d/
1. “EEOC Sues Walmart for Deli Worker’s Firing Over Disability Claims” Marketscreener.com, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/WALMART-INC-4841/news/EEOC-Sues-Walmart-for-Deli-Worker-s-Firing-Over-Disability-Claims-43359004/
2. “Walmart worker in NC got fired for missing work due to chronic illness, EEOC lawsuit says” Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article273677935.html
3. “Walmart sued by EEOC for firing deli worker with Crohn’s disease” CNBC, 28 Mar. 2023, https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/28/walmart-sued-by-eeoc-for-firing-worker-with-crohns-disease.html