Mother with terminal cancer suing Starbucks Canada, alleging wrongful termination over COVID-19 policy

An Alberta girl 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 mentioned it gave her flexibility to take care of her son, who has particular wants, in addition to advantages to help her household’s bodily and psychological well-being.

During her time working for the corporate, Pedersen mentioned she earned a number of constructive efficiency opinions 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 advised CTVNews.ca in a telephone 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 advised 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 mentioned.

The firm mentioned Pedersen was fired for failing to observe its COVID-19 symptom examine 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 steerage at the moment, which staff have been requested to observe, to maintain workers and prospects secure and wholesome.

Pedersen, alternatively, mentioned 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 mentioned. “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 mentioned she went into work on April 19, 2021 in her position as a shift supervisor and was initially feeling superb, however quickly developed a migraine and upset abdomen, and had issue respiration.

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

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

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

Out of an abundance of warning, she mentioned, she accomplished a COVID-19 take a look at on April, 24, 2021 via Alberta Health. Despite her unfavorable take a look at outcome, Pedersen mentioned she was instructed to not attend work.

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

Pedersen tried to enchantment the corporate’s termination, nevertheless it was denied. She mentioned she was advised that the choice to terminate staff who allegedly attended work sick was a uniform determination being utilized in any respect Starbucks shops throughout Canada.

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

After that, Pedersen mentioned she was given per week to make use of her advantages on the firm, so she went to get her eyes examined. At her appointment, she mentioned 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 mentioned her household physician then ordered her to get some bloodwork completed, which indicated that she had a terminal type of blood most cancers. Suddenly, she mentioned 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 mentioned.

Pedersen mentioned 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 in a different way due to her analysis, however by no means obtained a response.

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

Aaron Levitin, an employment lawyer representing Pedersen, mentioned his shopper is searching 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 searching for damages for what her assertion of declare describes because the dangerous religion method of termination and failing to correctly adjudicate her termination enchantment.

Levitin, an affiliate with Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, mentioned 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 advised CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview.

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

She mentioned 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 mentioned.