Walmart Accused Of Punishing Sick Employees

A workers’ advocacy group has accused Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act, among other worker protection laws. The mega-retailer routinely refuses to accept doctors’ notes, discriminates against pregnant workers, penalizes workers who need to care for sick family members and otherwise punishes employees for lawful absences. The survey, conducted by A Better Balance, gathered data from more than 1,000 employees. “Walmart should fully comply with the law so that no one is illegally punished for a disability-related absence or for taking care of themselves or a loved one with a serious medical condition,” Dina Bakst, founder and president of A Better Balance, told the New York Times. Walmart said it had not reviewed the report, but disputed the findings. Spokesman Randy Hargrove told the Times that Walmart reviews each employee’s circumstances individually and “in compliance with company policy and the law.”