I Must Be Totally Insensitive, because….

Posted on | May 24, 2011 | No Comments

The other day I came across an article for work about the EEOC and a charge against Starbucks for firing an employee trainee because she had requested a stool to do her job; she’s classified as a dwarf (under 4’10″). The manager claimed that the request was dangerous to her, her fellow employees and patrons — then was promptly let go.  The EEOC contends Starbucks’ actions violated the Americans With Disabilities Act. Part of that may be true, but I can understand where Starbucks is coming from especially in concern to everyone’s safety. Baristas are constantly on the move behind a Starbucks counter going to and fro making coffee, having a stool in the way could be dangerous and if someone where to bump into the trainee, she would be falling from a greater height than just her own natural stature.  She could probably then turn around and sue Starbucks because of unsafe conditions. Starbucks would lose in either situation.

But what really got me was the second article I’d found on this case and at the bottom was this– “This time, the EEOC hopes to amass the sums due Sallard for the suffering and humiliation attendant upon anyone who loses a job after three days.”  Seriously? I know people who lose jobs on the first day,  as well as the second and third. It’s called sucking it up and getting on with life and looking for work again. You call it a set back and move on. This is probably where I’m being insensitive again to Sallard’s situation.  Maybe it’s because I’m not in this person’s shoes to know what its like to be height challenged. Therefore, I apologize to the person in question and all others who might take offense at my insensitivity.

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