Walmart Employee Files Lawsuit Over Alleged Harassment and Retaliation
A former Walmart employee on Long Island, New York, has claimed in a federal lawsuit that a female supervisor harassed him by sending explicit photos and messages, and even attempted to assault him in his car. The lawsuit, filed on May 6 in Brooklyn, accuses the retailer of sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Shaun White, who worked as a team leader at stores in Uniondale and Valley Stream, stated that the alleged harasser, Robin Ford, began pursuing him shortly after he joined Walmart in 2019. According to the lawsuit, Ford sent him nude photos and sexually charged messages inviting him over or out to dinner.
Things escalated in August 2019 when, after a rally, Ford reportedly attempted to sexually assault White while his brother was in the car. White resisted, and later, Ford allegedly mocked him in a message to a co-worker.
The harassment reportedly continued over the years. White asserted that Ford would send messages expressing her attraction to him, despite his refusals. Ford allegedly became enraged when he turned her down, stating she had never been rejected by a man before.
Despite complaining to upper management, White was promoted to team leader in 2021. But when Ford joined the Valley Stream location six months later, the alleged harassment resumed.
In an email to his supervisors, White expressed feeling uncomfortable working with Ford. Instead of receiving support, he faced reprimands and a suspension after being fired in 2022. Although he contested the termination and was reinstated, he continued to report Ford’s behavior to management with little response.
As reported, in January 2023, White indicated his growing discomfort regarding Ford and his job security. He claimed that management had acknowledged his discomfort but did not take action. Following this, Ford began making false claims about White’s work performance, portraying him as inadequate despite positive evaluations.
White alleged that management continued to ignore his complaints, leading to further retaliation. Comments made by a supervisor suggested that management was more concerned with paperwork than actual performance.
The situation escalated when Edward Gregorek, a market manager, allegedly dismissed White’s claims and suggested his complaints could involve legal repercussions. Despite this, White persisted in raising concerns about harassment up until his firing on June 8, 2023.
Walmart cited falsifying attendance records and poor performance as reasons for his termination. However, White contends that these excuses were merely a cover for retaliation over his sexual harassment claims.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. As of now, Walmart hasn’t responded to the allegations made in the lawsuit.
