BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by Whole Foods Market employees who alleged the supermarket chain discriminated and retaliated against them when it barred them from wearing Black Lives Matter face coverings on the job.
Savanna h Kinzer (“Kinzer”), Haley Evans (“Evans”), and Christopher Michno (“Michno,” collectively, “Plaintiffs”) were employees of Defendant Whole Foods Market, Inc. (“Whole Foods”). They allege they were unlawfully terminated for opposing Whole Foods’ allegedly discriminatory discipline of employees wearing Black Lives Matter masks at work in violation of the anti-retaliation provision of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, § 704(a), 42 U.S.C.
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit filed by Whole Foods Market employees who alleged the supermarket chain discriminated and retaliated against them when it barred them from wearing Black Lives Matter face coverings on the job.
Whole Foods Market will pay $65,000 and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Whole Foods Market must also post an employee notice concerning the lawsuit and employee rights under federal anti-discrimination laws.
- Whole Foods Market Group, Inc., doing business as Whole Foods Market, headquartered in Austin, Texas, will pay $65,000 and provide other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
In addition to the $65,000 in damages, the two-year consent decree settling the suit requires that Whole Foods Market develop a disability accommodation policy.
Whole Foods Market is committed to minimizing food waste that ends up in landfill by distributing it to more-sustainable streams such as composting, animal feed, or anaerobic digestion.
In 2022, Whole Foods Market had active organic diversion programs at 449 locations, which collectively diverted nearly 108,000 tons of food waste from landfills.
Corporate conductAllegationAgainst
Whole Foods Market is accused of violating refrigerant safety rules
CARB alleges Whole Foods Market violated the RMP Regulation by operating refrigeration systems after January 1, 2011, without ensuring detected refrigerant leaks were addressed.
CARB alleges that Whole Foods Market violated the RMP Regulation by owning or operating stationary refrigeration systems after January 1, 2011, as defined by the RMP Regulation, failing to ensure that all detected refrigerant
Labor & working conditionsConfirmedYou decide
Whole Foods Market says union interfered with election
Whole Foods Market attorneys argued the union interfered in the election by promising employees a 30% wage increase and free transportation on voting day.
Three months after workers at a Whole Foods Market store in Philadelphia voted to become the specialty grocery chain's first group of unionized employees, the retailer is continuing to push back on efforts to certify the results of the election. The workers voted in late January by a margin of 130-100 to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. In February, Whole Foods asked the National Labor Relations Board to set aside the results, claiming that the union "engaged in conduct which impermissibly interfered with, and therefore deprived, voters of a free and fair election."
In a filing submitted to the agency this week, attorneys for Whole Foods Market argued the union involved with the election, held last week at a store in Philadelphia, interfered in the process by promising employees a 30% wage increase if they unionized and providing free transportation to them the day of the vote.
Attorneys for Whole Foods Market argued the union interfered in the election process by promising employees a 30% wage increase if they unionized and providing free transportation on the day of the vote.
Labor & working conditionsConfirmedYou decide
Whole Foods Market argues union interfered with vote
Whole Foods Market argued the union promised employees a 30% wage increase and provided free transportation on the day of the vote.
In a filing submitted to the agency this week, attorneys for Whole Foods Market argued the union involved with the election, held last week at a store in Philadelphia, interfered in the process by promising employees a 30% wage increase if they unionized and providing free transportation to them the day of the vote.
Corporate conductRecallAgainst
Whole Foods Market recalls salsas and prepared foods
Whole Foods Market recalled select salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo, and prepared foods products due to a possible health risk.
Whole Foods Market Group, Inc. Nationwide RCRA Administrative Settlement | US EPA
Following settlements with EPA Region 6 covering stores in several southern/southwestern states, Whole Foods Market voluntarily approached EPA to discuss the possibility of entering into a broad-based nationwide settlement agreement for their stores located in all U.S. States and Territories (other than those covered by the Region 6 settlements).
Under the settlement, Whole Foods Market will pay a $500,000 civil penalty.