Alberta mom suing Starbucks over her firing because she alleges her cancer was confused for COVID-19 | 24CA News
An Alberta mom who alleges Starbucks Coffee Canada Inc. mistakenly thought her most cancers signs had been COVID-19 signs is now taking authorized motion in opposition to the corporate, arguing she was wrongfully fired over the mix-up.
Lisa Pedersen has a uncommon kind of blood most cancers referred to as myeloproliferative neoplasm and is present process chemotherapy therapies for it. This is whereas she can also be parenting three youngsters, together with one with particular wants who requires round the clock care.
Pedersen has been combating the most cancers for the final two years, and now she can also be combating her former employer whom she mentioned fired her with out trigger.
For 4 years Pedersen labored at a Starbucks coffeeshop in Airdrie, Alta., a job she referred to as her “dream job.”
She mentioned she labored her approach as much as a supervisor place and preferred the corporate and its tradition a lot that she deliberate to work there till retirement.
In April 2021, her dream job got here to an finish when she mentioned she was fired.
“You have to have three writeups to be fired from Starbucks, so they did all three at once,” she advised Global News. “One for coming to work sick, one for not following COVID protocols and one for handling food while sick.”
Pedersen mentioned she by no means had COVID-19 and believes her most cancers signs had been mistaken for the signs of the coronavirus.
The most cancers was formally identified a month after she mentioned she was let go for breaking the corporate’s well being coverage.
The Calgary regulation agency Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Starbucks Coffee Canada Inc., on behalf of Pedersen.
“She was unfairly reprimanded due to symptoms believed to be COVID-19-related, when in fact it was actually blood cancer,” Pedersen’s mentioned Aaron Levitin, Pederson’s lawyer.
Pedersen mentioned she examined for COVID-19 and forwarded the outcomes to her boss in an effort to show she had not been working or dealing with meals whereas symptomatic for the sickness.
“I lost all of my benefits,” she mentioned. “They gave me one week to use my health benefits.”
Pedersen used her week to e-book optometry appointments for herself and her three kids.
She mentioned it was the optometrist who observed a spot on her eye and despatched her for bloodwork.
The assessments had been optimistic for most cancers, and Pedersen maintains the signs she was experiencing, which included a migraine headache and extreme abdomen upset, had been mistaken for COVID-19 signs.
“She did send an email notifying them her symptoms were related to cancer and she never received a response to that communication,” Levitin advised Global News.
Pedersen mentioned she had plans in place to maintain her three youngsters ought to one thing occur to her, however these plans got here to an finish when she was terminated from her place of employment.
“I had a life insurance policy through Starbucks,” she mentioned. “I’ve lost that now and I don’t qualify for a new policy because you have to be cancer-free for five years, and my type of cancer, there is no cure.”
“Starbucks needs to make the right decision and stand by its position that it is a conscientious employer that takes care of its partners,” Levitin mentioned. “It’s a tragic loss for her family. She can no longer qualify for life insurance.”
Pedersen’s future is unsure and this lawsuit is more likely to take years to make its approach by way of the courtroom system.
“It would be amazing if Lisa could spend this time with her family and focus on recovering and not be involved in ongoing litigation with a behemoth,” Levitin mentioned. “Unfortunately, that’s the position that Lisa finds herself in.”
The assertion of declare has been filed however no assertion of defence has been filed so far by Starbucks in response to Pedersen’s lawsuit.
None of the allegations have been confirmed in courtroom.
Global News reached out to a media consultant for Starbucks Canada, however on the time of publication, had not obtained a response to our request.
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