One more reason to hate wally-mart;

My 6 month pregnant 19 year old daughter had to go to a doctor for ultra-sound because they had found a spot on the baby's heart. She told her boss that she would miss work. The day after the appointment she went to work and her bosses boss told her that she had an unexcused abscence. The boss was off, so my daughter thought nothing of it. However, two days later my daughter was called into the boss' office and fired. She went to unemplowment and I found out today that wally-mart fought it and my daughter was denied benefits. I know that most companies fight it but now my pregnant daughter has no job and no way to pay rent. She is 1000 miles away and I give her as much out of my SSDI check as I can.

Fuck Wal-Mart!

They're Christian. Not perfect-- just forgiven.

Fight back,if you can't sue,try to share you story with local tv news and news papers. Maybe someone will bite and you can hit them where it hurts....public image

I would think there are some worker-rights groups out there that might be willing to take her case since it is a discrimination against someone who is pregnant.

I'm just not remembering who does that. An acquaintance's job changed and she couldn't live with the new hours. She was offered another job in the same office, but that apparently wouldn't work out well, either. She filed for unemployment and the company contested saying they had offered her a different job. They lost. Essentially it was decided that she lost her job due to changes in the office, not through her fault, and the second position didn't equate in keeping her "whole" or whatever.

Also, can you be fired for having a medical appointment? That doesn't sound right. I wonder if she has WalMart insurance and she looked like a liability.

Her dad or the father of the child?

Plus, how is she going to pay for the birth?

The father has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the young lady was fired from her job for what looks to be a miscommunication amongst her superiors. We don't know all of the variables, such as past work history, etc., but at first pass this looks an awful lot like discrimination. A good lawyer should have no problem getting a jury to feel sympathetic to this lady's case, should she decide to go that route.

The relavant portion is who should she depend on when life throws a sucker punch? Mom, Dad, the government? I think everybody has to be prepared to overcome the unfairness, and sometimes bullshit pitches we get thrown. the answer to everything is not always "get a lawyer and sue the crap out of them"! Sometimes life knocks you down because of unfair, wrong, bullshit, but that is the way it is. If dad were around she would have a partner to sail life's unfair waters, not her mother.

This is not the first or the last problem this young lady will encounter, me thinks there is more to the story than just the loss of a job.

We're dealing with an issue of fairness here, not making a judgement on her marital status. In this case, the answer may very well BE to get a lawyer and sue. Granted, there is no doubt more to the story, but ON THE SURFACE it looks like Wal-Mart attempting to cut it's insurance losses by terminating this employee on a technicality. At the very least, she should try to get her umemployment benefits.

One should not just walk away from an issue if they think that they were truly wronged. Life is indeed full of pitfalls, and I'm very supportive of the concept of personal responsibility, but there's an issue of fairness here that goes beyond that.

Yes it sounds wrong, yes I think she is being delt a raw hand, my question is what does she do about it while it shakes out. She is out on a limb in a bad spot. And for asking "what about the dad"? I have now been called a freeper below. So, while everybody writes sympathitic phrases, and agrees that Wallmart sucks, this 19 year old girl is still pregnant, and still screwed. So I will join the ranks, WALLMART SUCKS, GET A LAWYER, PROTEST, and in the meantime her mother can foot the bills, and in the end she can move back home. The question about the father is irrelevant, the point being made is not the pregnant mother, its Wallmart.

THAT'S the point that I'm trying to make. She had a job with bennies, and was clearly making an attempt to support herself. I have no idea as to what her marital situation is or was, but it's not really part of the conversation. People WITH spouses get wrongfully terminated, too.

Don't be afraid to stick to your guns, either. Open opinions ARE valued here, as long as a person can support them in a logical fashion. Don't agree with others just to agree and get the discussion over with. If you've got a point, argue it. I understand what you're trying to say about having an involved two-parent situation, but we are in no position to judge or speculate. Whatever the circumstances, it doesn't begin to address the fact that it LOOKS like a case of wrongful termination.

I agree totally, she was fine before she was fired, bennies and all. The question I had was a fair and simple one, what does a 19 year old do in-between litigation, and a corporate fight with Wallmart and the raising of her soon to be born child?
If there were a million responses all telling how shitty Wallmart is, it would mean nothing to me, all that matters to me in this thread is that a 19 year old girl with a baby on the way is right now most likley scared and going a little nuts.

Post #17 has irritated me. I could care less about Wallmart, but if I don't goose step to posting my hatred of Wallmart, my right to converse is questioned. I don't agree with Wallmart, what appears to have happened is wrong, but the mother who posted this has got to be asking herself some of same questions I am asking. The 19 year old girl has nobody to help her except her mother 1000 miles away, that also is wrong.

But it's outside of the scope of the original post. I agree with your concern about the young lady and her unfortunate situation, but I'm kind of putting that aside to focus on the central question of whether or not this looks like a case of wrongful termination.

You've GOT a good point, and you've GOT a good question, but I think that it might have been abruptly phrased in your original post in the thread.

As for your other issue, I'd say let it go. You get into enough discussions here and you tend to let things like that roll off. That's why I'm mostly a Lounge Lizard and not a GD poster for the most part. Some people take this stuff WAY too seriously. I say show 'em if you got 'em. I like to hear discussion from across the spectrum.

It has NOTHING to do with the central point. How did you slip by with 155 messages?

Yeah, it's irrelevant to the topic but that doesn't make the poster a freeper.

You think that because I don't post a gazillion times, my opnion or comments are less valuable? Maybe you should monitor my thoughts to be sure I fit into your collective. I replied a second time describing how there is a lot more crap in life on the way, fair or not, life is always throwing curveballs. Who is better suited to help her as a MOTHER,her mom dad or the man who helped create the child?

or maybe this answer will "fit" you better, SUE THEM!!< WALLMART SUCKS!!<IT'S NOT HER FAULT!!< SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD BAIL HER OUT!!

against something like that. Not only that, but often times, the community will set up a "fund" when it's clear that someone was seriously wronged like that. Seriously, see if you can start a major media stir in the area where your daughter lives. It's your/her best shot.

Once you get a story in print, post it here and we'll all do what we can spreading the word by email, blogs, etc.

Where was this? -JJ



http://jaundicejames.blogspot.com/

and don't want to cough up benefits for that. As far as I know, that's against the law and I think you can fight it, or your daughter can. Tell her to contest Wal-Mart.

Is your daughter in California or one of the more Democratic states? There are options available on the state level sometimes. She might also be able to fight the denial of benefits.

... immediately. Once she explains her situation, most decent law firms will refer her to one or several lawyers in the area who can handle the case on a contingency basis (if such is allowed in her state - laws vary).

She might also try to contact several larger, more prominent law firms in her area (or the closest city), where some lawyers do pro bono (free) work on a charitable basis, or for the publicity in a case that can capture media attention, as this one would. I know that sounds crass, but if a well-experienced lawyer is willing to take her on for no fee, who cares what his/her motives are?

Please keep us at DU posted! This is TRULY one of the most disgusting Wal-Mart stories I've heard to date -- and God knows, there are enough of them going around these days.

They have a list of lawyers who charge a minimal consultation fee for a one-hour appointment through the bar association's referral service.

This may have been a surreptitious way to preemptively get rid of her before she was eligible for post-birth medical leave under the FMLA.

There may be other pregnancy-related violations involved. See this:

http://www.ppspublishers.com/articles/pregnancy.htm#5.%20Can%20we%20discipline%20a%20pregnant%20employee%20for%20performance%20and%20attendance%20problems

~~~~~~ (( :hug: ))

I wish you could contact the creators recent anti-Walmart documentary "WAL-MART, the High Cost of Low Price"

They'd have to have the inside scoop on the everything there is to know about Walmart, including who every attorney is who is ANTI-Walmart.

----->>>> http://www.walmartmovie.com/

but they can just go to hell.

:grr:

:cry:

:thumbsdown:

Never been to a Wall-Mart and never will.:grr:

Wake Up Walmart ~ http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/ (skip to homepage)
There's a section on there to relay your daughter's story

Walmart Watch: ~ http://walmartwatch.com/
They even have a blog you can add comments to!

WARN (Walmart Alliance for Reform Now) ~ http://warnwalmart.org/
A group of citizens committed to forcing Wal-Mart to be accountable to community standards and values.

Corp Watch ~ http://www.corpwatch.org/
Holding Corporations Accountable

There's also other contacts on the (anti) Walmart Documentary's "Help" page http://www.walmartmovie.com/help.php

I'm sure a local station there could do a story on her - and show people what douchebags walmart is.

this is so sad. you have my complete sympathies, honey.

she can file a complaint with the Dept. of Labor regarding violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
She can file with the EEOC for pregnancy discrimination.
She can appeal the unemployment decision. There are strict time limits -- make sure she follows them. When she appeals, she should make sure she refers to the FMLA and discrimination issues.

Most companies do fight it but the unemployment bureau often rules to go ahead and grant it anyway.

National Labor Relations Board:

http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/home/default.asp

What state is she in (I know you are far from her)? There is a state board. She MUST file a complaint in her state.


She must fight this. I know it does not answer her immediate needs, but they will likely have to pay triple damages. She MUST fight this.

The epitome of heartless. :grr: :grr: :grr:

They are expecting her to just accept the verdict and give up. Don't let it drop.

but if you or your daughter intend to fight this you need to be sure her hands are clean. If she has a history of absenteeism or less than stellar performance you can bet that will be brought up at any hearing. You'd also be amazed at the number of ex-coworkers willing to slam your performance when you leave an organization, especially under a cloud. Just a couple of things to look out for....

Don't get me wrong I have not shopped in a Wally Mart in many many years. I go out of my way to push people to shop locally etc but.... IF this story is complete as presented, Wally is displaying a level of stuipdity that rivals their ruthlessness. IF this story is complete, this young lady will absolutely positively collect boat loads of money and Wally will suffer yet another public relations blackeye, IF this story is complete, the intreperations of those who wrote above are accurate but I suggest there's much more than meets the eye here. Wally doesn't stick out a chin and give you a free punch which is how this is presented.

Hate Wal-Mart with all your heart but don't be duped by ANY stories from either side. You gotta think these things through.

thanks for listening.

It would not surprise me for it to be completely true. In any case, are you suggesting that the OP is LYING??? That isn't nice at all.

That is an excused absence. It's medical care.

This is outrageous!!! :grr: :grr: :grr:

First she can't tell her boss she is taking off, she should have tried to work something out in the schedule. Secondly, the ultra sound appointment usually only takes an hour or so. So, if she had gone back to work that same day they could not have called in an unexcused absence.