EMPLOYMENT
Judge tosses worker’s discrimination claim
On Dec. 20, 2011, a judge dismissed a claim from a former Sam’s Club worker who alleged that her termination was due to race and gender discrimination. Rose Martinez, who is Hispanic, was an assistant manager when she was fired for improperly documenting temperature readings in the meat department. She claimed a white male manager failed to properly document produce temperatures and wasn’t fired. She also claimed that she was held to a higher standard; punished more severely for violations; forced to work longer hours; and didn’t have the same promotion opportunities as white male workers. The defense argued that she didn’t receive disparate treatment and that she was terminated for legitimate business reasons.
