Former Starbucks Canada employee files wrongful dismissal lawsuit

An Alberta lady battling a terminal type of blood most cancers is suing Starbucks Canada, alleging wrongful termination.

Lisa Pedersen, a single mom of three, says she was fired from her job in May 2021 for allegedly violating the multibillion-dollar espresso chain’s COVID-19 insurance policies and meals security requirements, however she claims she was cautious all through her time with the corporate.

Pedersen started working at a Starbucks retailer in Airdrie, Alta., in August 2017. She stated it gave her flexibility to take care of her son, who has particular wants, in addition to advantages to assist her household’s bodily and psychological well-being.

During her time working for the corporate, Pedersen stated she earned a number of optimistic efficiency critiques and a “Partner of the Quarter” award. The firm refers to its staff as “partners.”

“I loved the company. I loved what it stood for,” Pedersen informed CTVNews.ca in a cellphone interview. “I was a huge advocate for the company and then I felt like that was taken away from me.”

She has taken her case to a lawyer, who has filed an announcement of declare with the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta alleging wrongful dismissal.

In an emailed assertion, Starbucks Canada informed CTVNews.ca it’s conscious of the lawsuit.

“We have no further information to share at this time as we are unable to discuss private employment or active (litigation) matters,” the corporate stated.

The firm stated Pedersen was fired for failing to comply with its COVID-19 symptom test course of earlier than a shift and for coming to work whereas having signs of COVID-19 on a number of events.

Starbucks Canada famous that it had very particular steering at the moment, which staff have been requested to comply with, to maintain workers and prospects secure and wholesome.

Pedersen, however, stated she wouldn’t have gone into work if she felt she was sick with COVID-19.

“I wouldn’t put anybody’s health (in) jeopardy,” she stated. “I have practically lived at the children’s hospital for my son — he was (receiving care there) for 12 years of his life and I know not to jeopardize anybody’s health.”

Pedersen stated she went into work on April 19, 2021 in her function as a shift supervisor and was initially feeling positive, however quickly developed a migraine and upset abdomen, and had issue respiratory.

At the time, she stated she was experiencing stress from work, which she attributed her migraine to. She attributed her issue respiratory to having to put on a face masks at work to forestall the unfold of COVID-19.

Pedersen stated she informed her supervisor on the time that she was feeling unwell and knowledgeable him of her signs, to which she stated her supervisor responded that one thing was “going around.” She stated the supervisor left for trip that very same day.

The subsequent day, she stated she went into work and informed her supervisor, whereas he was away on trip, that she was nonetheless feeling unwell. She stated her supervisor then requested her to textual content her signs to him, and so she did.

Out of an abundance of warning, she stated, she accomplished a COVID-19 take a look at on April, 24, 2021 by way of Alberta Health. Despite her adverse take a look at end result, Pedersen stated was instructed to not attend work. (trying to get readability on this half)

Then, on May 2, 2021, she was fired from her job.

Pedersen tried to attraction the corporate’s termination, but it surely was denied. She stated she was informed that the choice to terminate staff who allegedly attended work sick was a uniform choice being utilized in any respect Starbucks shops throughout Canada.

“I had a perfect employment history with Starbucks. I had no write-ups,” she stated. “It just seemed really hasty for them to terminate me. I just didn’t understand it.”

After that, Pedersen stated she was given every week to make use of her advantages on the firm, so she went to get her eyes examined. At her appointment, she stated the optometrist observed she had a roth spot, which is a hemorrhage within the retina, and shared that discovering together with her household physician.

Pedersen stated her household physician then ordered her to get some bloodwork finished, which indicated that she had a terminal type of blood most cancers. Suddenly, she stated the signs she was experiencing at work began to make sense.

“That’s where my migraine came from. That’s where difficulty breathing came from and upset stomach, because the blood was not circulating through my body,” she stated.

Pedersen stated she contacted Starbucks Canada once more to allow them to know that she was identified with most cancers, in hopes that the corporate would have handled her case otherwise due to her prognosis, however by no means acquired a response.

“It’s heartbreaking,” she stated. “Are you saying that nobody should handle food … if they have cancer?”

Aaron Levitin, an employment lawyer representing Pedersen, stated his shopper is looking for varied damages from Starbucks Canada together with for her misplaced pay, misplaced advantages and life insurance coverage entitlements, and punitive damages.

She’s additionally looking for damages for what her assertion of declare describes because the unhealthy religion method of termination and failing to correctly adjudicate her termination attraction.

Levitin, an affiliate with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, stated Starbucks ought to stand by its place that it’s a “conscientious employer” that takes care of its staff.

“This is really a tragic situation for somebody who’s been awarded Partner of the Quarter, who did her utmost to make sure that stores were open when they were struggling,” he informed CTVNews.ca in a cellphone interview.

Pedersen stated she had her sights set on working at Starbucks till retirement, however her firing dashed her hopes and expectations.

She stated she desires her case to set a precedent for Starbucks to deal with its staff higher.

“I just feel they need to correct their wrong and they need to not do this to anybody else because it’s completely unfair, like this is people’s livelihood,” Pedersen stated.