Staff Reports
A U.S. court decided to take another look at a lawsuit involving a former Whole Foods worker who said she was fired for wearing a Black Lives Matter facemask at her job. The court thought there might have been some issues with how Whole Foods handled the situation. Savannah Kinzer, who used to work at a store in Cambridge, Massachusetts, didn’t follow the store’s rule about not wearing clothes with messages like Black Lives Matter on them. She has been open about speaking out against racism and joining protests. Whole Foods said they have a rule to make sure everyone feels welcome in their stores.
Kinzer said she was fired because she protested outside her workplace, refused to take off her mask, talked to the media, and made a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The store said she was let go because of her attendance, which got worse because of the points she got for wearing the mask. The court said it’s not clear if Kinzer was fired for attendance reasons or because of her activism, and that a jury will need to decide that.
Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit By Whole Foods Employee Fired Over Black Lives Matter Masks https://t.co/leUSolqoBB . #Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/0J91YC2Od2
— NahBabyNah (@NahBabyNah) April 25, 2024
The case was sent back to a judge in Boston for another look, after it was dismissed before. While Kinzer’s lawsuit will get another chance in court, the cases of two other employees who were also fired by Whole Foods for similar reasons were not brought back. The court said there was no proof that the way the store handled those cases was unfair.
Editorial: It is important for companies to have rules in place to create a neutral and inclusive environment for all customers. It is understandable that Whole Foods wanted to enforce their dress code policy to maintain a welcoming atmosphere. Employers should not have to tolerate disruptions caused by employees who choose to prioritize their personal beliefs over company policies. Business owners have the right to set guidelines to ensure a harmonious work environment and it’s crucial that employees follow these rules to maintain professionalism and respect in the workplace.
