It's like Philadelphia, only somehow more depressing.
A woman in Toronto was diagnosed with breast cancer a few weeks ago. She told her boss, who expressed sympathy. She was asked to put all of the information about her necessary time off in writing. She did so, stating that she would work right up until the heavy part of the procedures began, scheduled for last week. When her ex-husband suggested she get a second opinion on her diagnosis, she wrote a second note stating that she would stay on indefinitely.
That's what she found out that her company had considered her first note a letter of resignation and told her, "Sorry, nah nah, you can't take it back."
You think we're kidding?
Torrejon couldn't believe what she was reading. Nowhere in her letter or her conversations with the McDonalds had she ever suggested quitting her job. As an ill single mom [with two kids-- and don't forget the "ill" is "with breast cancer"], resigning is the last thing she could afford to do right now.
At their management office, a flustered Geri McDonald repeated their contention that Torrejon had submitted a letter of resignation. When told that we had seen a copy of the letter and it appeared to be nothing of the kind, McDonald pursed her lips and said, "I have nothing else to say."
The company may have suspected that Miss Torrejon is an illegal immigrant or some other type that might not fight back, but they were wrong. This was an extensive and widely-distributed story in yesterday's Toronto Sun. What can she do now? Possibly sue. Possibly get the government involved-- since, according to one local human rights league, McDonald and friends violated a law barring discrimination against the disabled, a category which Torrejon may fall under.
Via the Toronto Sun/Canoe.
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