Inflexible Absence Policy

       During the first months of 2010, Target hired a new Executive Team Leader-Softlines.  Since the beginning, the ETL threatened me badly and she discriminated me for my pregnancy conditions. At the first encounter, I remembered when she approached to me and she told me ironically and disrespectfully “...aahh! You’re Anamaria…the pregnant woman…” it was just the beginning of her attitude, and she was into a constantly discrimination actions against me.

-The new ETL Softlines imposed changes to eliminate reasonable accommodations to me. Once I requested to the ETL to provide a seat with a back support. The ETL mentioned to me “That the Target policies were that they couldn’t have a seat with a back rest”. 

-The accommodation to allow attending my medical appointments during the Days Off (Wednesday & Friday) was eliminated by the ETL, who justified this action with comments such as when she was appointed as the ETL-Softlines at the store, my work conditions had changed and no more days off during the week are allowed, unless she decided so. 

-The pregnancy condition is unpredictable to control various symptoms, such as morning sickness, fatigue; dizziness, difficulty sleeping that interfered with my ability to work a specific schedule. These symptoms caused unplanned absences that always were justified. On May 4, 2010, I was absent due to the above symptoms. Following Team Member Handbook guidelines, I reported this absence to the Target Team Leader.

-On Wednesday May 5, 2010, the ETL scheduled to work in spite of this day was my Day Off. That day, due to severe symptoms was not able to call to report the absence, but my husband reported the absence two hours before as the Team Member Handbook guidelines stated.   When I back to my workplace the next day, I found the surprise that the ETL Softlines Manager called my attention for my absences, and she claimed repeatedly that those absences were not reported appropriately, and she said that I was on complaint for it. Therefore, I explained to her my sickness situation.

-I told her several times that I complied with the Target’s Handbook guidelines and rules related to absences as well as I told her that “it wasn’t my fault to be sick, and I couldn’t control my health conditions changes during the pregnancy…” The only statement from her that I hear was “I don’t care that…” and immediately she emphasized “…You can’t talk with other employee to report your absences, only your Department Manager is the person that approves or not the absences… and your husband are not authorized to call or talk with other employee either to report your sickness…” I was trying to deal the situation with her just explaining that any manager was available at that time. The answer of the Department Manager was tough, ironic, and she stated discriminatory statements against me…she said...”you don’t have the right to be absent again”