U.S. sues Starbucks for firing dwarf

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Update: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18707661



The Starbucks Coffee Company has paid $75,000 to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to settle a lawsuit for unlawfully denying a reasonable accommodation to a woman with dwarfism, according to a press release.
The lawsuit was filed by the commission on behalf of Elsa Sallard, who claimed she was fired from her job as a barista because she is a dwarf.
According to a press release from the commission, Sallard told employers during a training that she could use a stool or stepladder to do her job.
"The manager at the El Paso Starbucks location disregarded Sallard's request," the release said. "On the same day that Sallard requested the accommodation, Starbucks terminated her employment, claiming that she would pose a 'danger' to customers and employees."
Commission officials said that the settlement not only compensates Sallard, but is an agreement that Starbucks will provide training in compliance with Americans With Disabilities Act.




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(Reuters) - The U.S. government is suing Starbucks Coffee Company for firing a barista in El Paso because she is a dwarf.


When the employee asked for a stool or small stepladder to perform her job, Starbucks denied the request and fired her that same day, claiming that she could be a danger to customers and workers, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.


The commission, which filed the lawsuit on Monday, said that Starbucks violated federal law by denying a reasonable accommodation to the employee, who was hired in July 2009 and was fired after three days of training.


"Starbucks has become a virtual icon of modern American culture, appealing to an incredibly diverse customer base," Robert Canino, a commission lawyer in Dallas, said in a statement. "We'd hope that when considering hiring a person with a disability, Starbucks would choose to enhance its brand with the mark of equal opportunity and access."
Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.




http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/...T173723Z_01_BTRE74G1CYE00_RTROPTP_0_STARBUCKS

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zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,978
31,534
146
dwarves are dangerous. You never can know what they are up to, down there.

:hmm:
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
The Government will win. They already hired that person the way they were so not accommodating them after hiring them will get you sued.
 

nanette1985

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2005
4,209
2
0
Why'd they hire her in the first place, if it were going to be an issue? Starbucks has to have tons of employee-rights consultants on staff. Strange.

I don't care who makes my coffee as long as they do it the way I asked them.
 

Ronstang

Lifer
Jul 8, 2000
12,493
18
81
Damned if you do damned if you don't. They would have been sued if the dwarf fell off the stool.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,926
10,785
147
Dwarves are perfectly positioned to deliver stand-up service, if you know what I mean.
 

Squisher

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
21,204
66
91
It was probably the battle axe getting in the way and making it dangerous to work around.
 

Perknose

Forum Director & Omnipotent Overlord
Forum Director
Oct 9, 1999
46,926
10,785
147
Why'd they hire her in the first place, if it were going to be an issue?

They overlooked her height when they hired her. :awe:

But they could have fired her for having an attitude problem. It wouldn't be difficult to prove that she was short with everyone.
 

classy

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
15,219
1
81
Why'd they hire her in the first place, if it were going to be an issue? Starbucks has to have tons of employee-rights consultants on staff. Strange.

I don't care who makes my coffee as long as they do it the way I asked them.

Agreed. Why hire her, then fire her when she asks for a little extra aid in doing her job?
 

DCal430

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2011
6,020
9
81
Refusing to hire her because she is dwarf could also be viewed as a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Since with reasonable accommodations her disability should not impair her ability to do her job.
 

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
I bet she got sick of
"I'll have half & Halfling"
"Give me a short one"
"Aren't you cute!"
"Do you have soul?"
"Is this where I return my quest?"
"Heeeeres my money! THhhhaaaanks!"
.....blank eyed stare......
 

SolMiester

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2004
5,330
17
76
I think starbucks got it right...If you are a normal height person, you might not notice the dwarf under you, and a spill boiling coffe on her head...starbucks would then get sued for that....
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
Starbucks discriminates. I mean, what's this business about tall coffee being worth more than the short?! Outrageous.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
I think starbucks got it right...If you are a normal height person, you might not notice the dwarf under you, and a spill boiling coffe on her head...starbucks would then get sued for that....
Why was the short person hired in the first place then? Was that established?

Side note: Dwarfs or Dwarves are both correct, and spellcheck likes Dwarfs better. :p