Ex-Walmart worker wins discrimination ruling

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Rocnow

Tom Tobin – Staff writer

A former Walmart employee has won a preliminary discrimination ruling from the state Division of Human Rights on his complaint that the store did not adequately accommodate his disability.

Ricky DeLorenzo of Rochester, who was a cashier at the Walmart on Empire Boulevard in Penfield until his termination last year, alleged that he was fired because he is openly gay and because he took time off, each time with a doctor’s note, for treatment related to a 2004 automobile accident in which both of his ankles were broken.

According to the ruling, Walmart said DeLorenzo had a long history of performance and attendance problems, some of which predated the accident.

The state investigation found insufficient evidence to support the sexual orientation complaint but found probable cause that the store required DeLorenzo to perform duties, including standing for long periods, that disregarded the physical problems related to his injuries.

Read more: http://rocnow.com/article/business/20105140320

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And this last paragraph of the story: A state appeals court recently upheld a Division of Human Rights ruling against a Syracuse-area Walmart and a store employee for forcibly preventing an African-American woman from leaving the store unless she showed a receipt. Walmart was ordered to pay the woman $7,000 and provide anti-discrimination training.

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[Wednesdays]

1. Of course, like clockwork, the "disgruntled, incompetent employee" defense

:eyes: