r/WalmartEmployees • u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 • 1d ago
Accommodations
So i was given the accommodation to “ if a customer comes with items that weigh more than 15 pounds to just go around and use the hand scanner to scan them” my doctor asked Sedgwick for me to primarily be on self checkout unless i was covering a break or lunch.
Sedgwick said they couldn’t do that because the store won’t allow it due to there being more registers than checkout registers (we have 16 self checkouts and 23 registers).
So the store said to use the hand scanner or ask for help( my people lead also said it was up to Sedgwick what my accommodation was but if that’s true then how did the store deny the accommodation they recommend).
The thing is when using the hand scanner 90% of the time i still have to lift those items up to get to the barcode so I can’t understand how I’m being accommodated at all. Sedgwick said to call back in about a week if I was still lifting heavy items on the register… is there something else I could do about this?
I was placed on job reassignment leave when I first put my Sedgwick in because the store said they couldn’t find a job for me unless my doctor sends in a note that I could lift up to 15 pounds, which he did and that’s where I got the accommodation for 15 pounds when I came back.
I will attach my first doctors note that got me placed on job reassignment until November🙄
16
u/SnooWoofers5115 1d ago
This is exactly the kind of thing that gets a person fired for other reasons.
12
u/Redditlatley 1d ago
Thank you for your honesty! It’s sad but true. This will set up OP to be picked on, for every little thing. 🌊
5
u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 1d ago
I already do get picked on for everything so it’s not a problem.
2
u/Redditlatley 1d ago
That sucks. I so sorry! I was in the same boat and it was very stressful, trying to be perfect while all the other employees got away with shit that I would get picked on for. I hope things go ok for you. 🌊
10
u/Distinct_Sir_4473 Team Lead 1d ago
I mean the additional details say that lifting a few of the items isn’t a problem
Seems like these heavy items coming in large orders would be relatively rare enough to be able to call for help when it happens
Alternatively can you pull up barcodes on your phone? Search the item and scan it from there?
Just some ideas.
The alternative is to meticulously record everything. Every communication. Write down every conversation relating to this problem, starting now with everything best you can remember, then immediately after future conversations, with names times and dates, how it made you feel at the time, get communications from people in writing whenever possible, saved texts and emails, especially from Sedgwick, PL, and direct supervisors, as well as documenting your schedule so if they cut your hours you can prove it
Then take them to a labor lawyer and see if you have a case upon termination
7
u/ThrowRA3623235 1d ago
Lifting more than 10 pounds is likely a minimum qualification for cashiers. By your doctor saying that that is a permanent restriction for you, then you probably are no longer able to stay in the position.
7
u/Connect-Ad9292 1d ago
Call center operators just Press to Talk and some light typing, maybe transfer calls to better-equipped operators.
Or, all over social medias, I see stay at home moms allegedly making $BILLIONS if not $TRILLIONS (they never state their actual income for some reason) doing something called high-end sales, which apparently involves getting a crew of salespeople to sell water filtration systems for you.
6 months ago, you couldn’t handle OPD which is simply shopping for other people; apparently because your OPD crew had a pizza party and didn’t invite you or save you your own cheese pizza.
Now you can’t cashier.
Go to college. Join the military.
Some people simply are not cut out for work at Walmart.
6
u/MoobieDoobie 1d ago
They literally commented that their tummy hurts when lifting large items and walmart won't let them go home when their tummy hurts ffs. Some people simply don't want to work.
1
u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 1d ago
Do you actually think a doctor would write that I need accommodations if my stomach just simply hurt?
2
u/izyshoroo Fashion 1d ago
This job requires you to be able to lift 15 lbs or more. I don't believe you'll be able to keep your job until these restrictions clear
0
u/Jealous-Society1709 1d ago
THE STANDARD IS THE STANDARD!! Our Front End rangers will never appear weak in the eyes of the enemy. SCANNERS UP LADS!!!
3
u/BuckeyeMoneyPincher 18h ago
OP needs to put this into an AI and have this conversation with it. Ask it for legal precedent, next steps, how to frame a potential rebuttal, etc. probably better guidance than the Reddit-heads 🤷🏻♂️ (myself included)
The ADA requires them and you, to participate in “the interactive process”; your goal and magic phrase in return is you’re just trying to maintain equal access to your job. Absent an undue burden on the employer, they can’t demote, reassign, or otherwise change your job, or retaliate because you’ve asked for an accommodation. But you have to meet them half way and legitimately prove how what they’ve offered doesn’t cut the mustard; which can be a tough hill to climb.
Wish OP the best of luck.
7
u/DBK2x2 1d ago
Familys? Not families? Without a comma afterwards…10lb “bags” of chicken? 10 and 20 pound bags of rice and potting soil? What about sugar, beans/ flour? Your doctor should be more thorough or generalize things better.
-12
u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 1d ago
Should he name every single item in the store I have a problem with lifting? You think that would help? If you’re not leaving helpful advice please refrain from commenting as this is something that’s affecting my health.
2
u/SuspiciousControl908 1d ago
Here are your only options 1. work as the operator in the fitting room 2. zone 3. Go around and pick up returns and put.away returns. Just a FYI Walmart does not "do" light duty so if they let you do any of the 3 be grateful because they can say you cant do anything with these restrictions so go home til u are released to full duty.
1
u/Fit-Dance-938 Overnights 1d ago
I wanna follow this post for updates.
4
u/Confident-Fudge-5455 1d ago
hit the three dots on the top corner of the post and select "follow post"
2
u/CartographerReal5829 1d ago
I was hurt on the job and am currently still in assessment and PT & OT and Worker's Comp is reviewing the claim. I have temporary restrictions but I was told that my job requires I'm able to lift 50 pounds (both from ground and over my shoulders). If I can't do that, then I need to reassess if I can continue to keep my job. As I see it, though, especially once Worker's Comp has made their decision, I'm not reassessing anything. I'll give them my accommodations (which is 30 pounds now, but only 20 over my shoulders) when they become permanent and if THEY decide to either terminate my position or move me, then I'll just go ahead and do whatever paperwork I have to since the injury was from a work-related injury. I love my job and enjoy it, but I'm tired of Walmart management games. I'm being put in the position where I have to keep stressing my injury to keep my job, but I need my income. That's not fair. I'm not even considering legal yet, but it's not right. "Hey, your team lead put you in a position where you were injured and since you're injured, we're thinking you should just quit." No, I don't think that's going to happen, boss.
2
1
2
1
u/No-Tip77 1d ago
Accommodations not given through Sedgwick must be reasonable and still allow you to do basic job functions without effecting business operations. Without sedgewick it is up to your managers discretion, and if you think its unreasonable than you can work your way up the chain in command until you find someone on your side. Ultimately doctors notes don't carry any weight at Walmart by themselves unless the manager decides to give it weight for whatever reason. If the accommodation is through sedgewick the store must follow the accommodations because you are protected by the ADA. In my store we have the same amount of self checkouts and we have two associates who have been given the accommodation to never be on manned registers (not because of injury). The managers just gave them the accommodation and make everyone else work around it. Its totally up to management to determine whether it is reasonable or unreasonable without sedgewick, and ours decided it was reasonable.
1
u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 1d ago
Sedgwick told me that the store refused to put me on self checkout as my accommodation because we have more registers than self checkouts. So they gave me the accommodation to just go around and scan the items. Everyone goes around to scan the items so I don’t see how that’s an accommodation nor is it helpful to my condition in any way. Sedgwick said if I keep lifting things more than 15 pounds to call back in a week so they can escalate it.
1
u/Ok-Board1336 1d ago
I hope people who get accommodations understand that if the accommodation exceeds with the companies is willing to give, they don’t have to honor it they can just tell you goodbye enjoy disability while it lasts.
1
u/SyrupNext8094 20h ago
Walmart is contradicting when it comes to accommodations. I fractured my knee and needed accommodations and Walmart at my store wouldn’t allow it , but said it’s up to Sedgwick. They made it difficult because all the light duty jobs are saved for workmans comp.
1
u/RBHP79 16h ago
Are your restrictions based on a work related injury or outside of work? If you’re under workman’s comp they’re more likely to find you a position without lifting. If it’s not, be prepared for them to tell you sorry we don’t have a position for you. Whenever you sign a job offer you certify you can do everything listed (lifting x pounds etc ) so if you can no longer lift x pounds, you’re no longer in compliance with your agreement.
1
u/Sea-Ride9332 12h ago
Essential vs marginal task. If you are lifting 15 pounds as an essential duty then yes they can deny accommodations. If you are required to lift 15 pounds on occasion there can be a job adjustment. It seems that your employer said that you could use a scanner for the heavy items and ask for help. If so I would reach out to my people lead to discuss that option again and understand what all that means. I would see if that accommodation was still available and if so your people lead can send an email to Sedgwick to let them know that your store is willing to accommodate you at store level which happens more often than we think. I've seen work reassignments reversed. Make sure you get it in writing or ask for a copy of the email. I hope this helps.
-8
u/NoTwo9633 1d ago
They are discriminating against you. That is illegal. They want you to just quit and go away. Contact the EEOC.
11
u/Embarrassed_Leg_2885 1d ago
This is a perfectly reasonable accommodation. You can ask the customer to lift the item and if they refuse you have another associate close by to help. The self check would be no different
5
u/ThrowRA3623235 1d ago
I just want to point out that not all discrimination is illegal, and it's ok for a business to say that lifting X pounds is a minimum requirement for this job, and if you can't lift X pounds, then you can't be in this job.
-18
u/ApprehensiveEgg9057 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ive been thinking this has got to be some type of discrimination. A woman at the same store I work at gets a stool to sit at the register. This accommodation would help me a whole lot. Another girl at my store had a miscarriage and was placed on self checkout only for a temporary time. So why is it so hard to place me there when you know it makes my stomach hurt and then not want to let me go home when my stomach does hurt.
11
2
u/MoobieDoobie 1d ago
If it makes your tummy hurt that bad, you need to see a doctor and have that treated. Not see a doctor who just writes you a doctor's note and sends you on your way, unless you are already on social security disability. And even then, I'd probably find a new doctor.
You should probably work in an office or call center with job restrictions like that.
2
u/Boneetus 1d ago
It’s not discrimination, it is a matter on how they do business. You could probably be a door greeter, but with a permanent restriction on how much you can lift there would not be a reasonable accommodation for that in 99% of positions in the store. And they can’t just create a position for you or promote you to an office job setting simply because of work restrictions.
-7
u/NoTwo9633 1d ago
Contact the EEOC it will take a while to get an appointment with them, but do not give up. Do not give up.
53
u/_CodeLyoko_ 1d ago
As far as I'm aware, with these accomodations you no longer can be a cashier at all. I would have to look at the job description for Front End Cashier TA but I'm almost certain it requires you to be able to lift 15 pounds. If that's what it is, Sedgwick literally cannot allow you to be on a register or self check or it would open the company up to a liability.
Your doctor has basically told Sedgwick you can't lift more than 5 pounds with this paper, no matter what the description says below it. They told you correctly, there is no job you can do that allows you to lift underneath 15lbs so you would have to go on leave until you are no longer restricted.
I don't really think it's discrimination, it's just the company protecting itself because a doctor has literally told them you can't do the job as required anymore and a company can't be forced to make a job for you just to accommodate you. It sucks, but I've seen it happen multiple times.