Starbucks' Dyslexic Employee Wins Discrimination Case Against Employer

A Dyslexic woman employee won a case involving discrimination against a coffee chain company after she was wrongly accused of falsifying documents. The said employee fell suicidal as her employment company given her lesser things to do and was told by the London branch employer to retrain.

The BBC News reported, tribunal discovered a case of discrimination against Meseret Kumulchew, an employee who suffers from dyslexia, reported to have been discriminated at her workplace in Starbucks in Clapham, South-west London. Kumulchew has been accused by the employer of falsification of documents. However, Kumulchew said she just mistakenly read and write incorrect information when taking the temperature of fridges and water at specific times. Starbucks gave her fewer responsibilities on her work and was even told to retrain.

Court decided to have a separate hearing in order to determine the amount of compensation that the company ordered to pay, according to the Guardian. Kumulchew who work as a supervisor at the said coffee chain said her employer knows she was suffering from dyslexia and that the false accusations against her made her want to end her own life.

"There was a point that I wanted to commit suicide. I am not a fraud. The name fraud itself shouldn't exist for me. It's quite serious. I just made a mistake." she said.

According to the Telegraph, the tribunal found that Starbucks had "failed to make reasonable adjustments" for their dyslexic employee's reading difficulties. It is stated under the 2010 Equality Act, which replaced the Disability Act. It said the company showed little or no understanding of equality issues.

Starbucks said they could not provide any details about the case, however, they said they are committed on providing more workplace support. "We have been working with the British Dyslexia Association on improving the support we provide to our employees, and did so concerning Meseret Kumulchew in 2015," according to their official statement. 

Tags

Meseret Kumulchew, Dyslexic Employee, Starbucks London Branch, Starbucks Dyslexic Woman, Starbucks Discrimination Case

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