El Pasoan Files Discrimination Claim Against Local Starbucks
Once again, El Paso is making headlines for one of those “tall” problems. Seems this time, though, its not our looks or terrible job market, its discrimination.
If the recent beating and alleged hate crime which took place outside of the Old Plantation nightclub wasn’t enough to put us on the map, latte-making conglomerate Starbucks stepped in to put the foam on top with a very public EEOC claim. Yesterday, the agency filed a suit against Starbucks which stated that one of the company’s El Paso locations fired a dwarf without providing reasonable accomodations.
The alleged-victim, Elsa Sallard reports that she was fired only three days after being hired in July of 2009 because she asked for a stool or step ladder to assist in her job duties. Stacy Krum, a spokeswoman for Starbucks said, “the store manager fired her on the basis that the work was too physically demanding.”
I don’t know about you, but we’re calling BS on Starbucks’ part. Was there really no way she could have been reasonably accommodated? What about having her work the register or drive through in a capacity where she only had to take orders and not make them? What about the possibility of having her work the lower-traffic hours when having a stool behind the counter wouldn’t interfere with the stress of the morning rush.
Perhaps in this fast-paced-espresso-infused environment, its easier to promote efficiency over equality. Whatever the outcome of the case, its unfortunate that El Paso is making headlines for this.
To view additional coverage of of Starbucks v. Sallard see below:
