Complaint Filed With McDonald's Claiming Clerk Screamed, Ran From "Little Person"

[Cubby]

OK as horrible as this story is...that was funny.

As far as what happened tho...the person should have been upfront about their fear of little people when he/she was hired to work with the public. The chances were very good they were going to come into contact with a little person in their job capacity. If you have a phobia of clowns, you do not go to work for a circus.

McD's customers come from all walks of life, all ages, and it should be expected people with disabilities, special needs, and a host of other things will walk in the door. Yes, McD's Manager should fire the worker because they cannot handle interaction with John Q. Public in a manner which is acceptable. Screaming in horror and running away is a direct violation of policy in any business serving the public unless there is a gun pointed at you! You just simply don't do it!!

I think the little person involved should be aptly compensated for his embarrassment and the mental anguish. He did nothing wrong and was treated horribly in front of the entire staff plus other customers. Now, he is in the media and it is still ongoing. I feel for the little fella.

At what point to we compensate everyone for being different? Who of us disabled or not have not experienced some form of discrimination or embarrasment? McDonalds doesn't exactly have the pick of the crop with choosing it's employee's, at least not in my area. In my area we are lucky if a McDonald's employee speaks and understands English. I expect good food, but understand the service isn't going to be that which I might get elsewhere. Perhaps this employee could be better suited in another position, but a law suit? Then, I might have to sue the laundry mat I went to earlier this evening when some blonde bimbo wearing her walkman about smashed her hands through the glass while almost knocking over my 5 yr old son was holding the door for me, rather than saying excuse me and using the F word and rugrat. Sure he got a lesson on manners, but a law suit? Maybe sue for automatic doors, lol. after all we have our hands were full and he was obeying mom.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

You have certain expectations when you go into any McDonalds. One of those expectations is not to be humiliated and treated the way this man was by the help. I think the employee throwing a hot cup of coffee would have been preferable to him. I bet you wouldn't object to him suing then!

 

[Cubby]

No, hot coffee would have left some possibly horrible deforming burns. The drive up window might be appropriate for this kind of employee. I wouldn't trust them around chemicals to wash floors or toilets.... but someone humiliating someone who is physically but not mentally different.... I'm simply thinking along the lines of giving the person victimized some understanding that the person who did that humiliated themselves more so than the little man was humiliated. I am pretty sure he was mentally capable of understanding that. Fire them, ya..... sue McDonalds? No.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

I think he has a case, but it is my personal opinion. (Could be because we have a child with a form of Dwarfism (Russell Silver's Syndrome) in my family and I am horrified this could happen to her someday. Trust me, she would be traumatized for life over an incident such as that even with her intelligence and sense of self worth.)

 

[golfmom]

I think that the employee should be terminated and if there's any lawsuit it should be directed at the former employee. McDonald's didn't train, encourage or require that behavior as part of her job. I know they're the bigger target because they got the bigger pockets. But, she should be liable for her behavior, NOT her employer.

What she did was unacceptable. And I just don't buy her excuse, pure nonsense. If she was unable to serve a customer all she had to do was excuse her self and ask someone to step in. Not stand there and create a big scene.

As a matter of fact, maybe her parents should be sued as well since they managed to raise a complete idiot. They're way more responsible for her behavior than McDonald's is.

 

[Eire]

Phobias don't work in a reasonable way. There are fears and there are phobias. Phobias are irrational and frankly, very difficult to live with. I have a pretty serious phobia of snakes. So much so that I am unable to speak or breathe when one is near me. I can't just politely excuse myself when there is a snake around, my phobia won't let that happen. Instead, I freak out much like this girl did. To the observer, I'm overreacting, behaving like a fool and generally making a scene. I can not help it no matter how hard I try.

Fear of little people is an actual phobia. I feel for the little people who have to deal with people reacting as this girl did, it's certainly not their fault. True, a customer service job is not suitable for this girl. McDonald's can't control who buys from them. To suggest that the girl be sued or that her parents be sued, no. They did not raise an idiot any more than my parents raised an idiot. I'm sure they didn't take her out in public, point out little people and allow her to make fun.

Living with phobias is not a picnic. That doesn't mean she gets to have a meltdown like this. She needs a more suitable position, obviously. I for one believe that she is phobic.

Suggesting that she watch Matt Roloff and his family is like suggesting I watch Snakes on a Plane, hell on earth for the phobic. It would only make things worse. We're not talking about prejudice, phobias are very different than that.

 

[2sisters]

I agree with you. This worker should never have applied for a job working with the public knowing she has this phobia.

This man probably feels somewhat uncomfortable anyway and deals with it the best he can, then to have this happen to him must be just awful. I feel really bad for him. This will probably negatively affect him the rest of his life.

IF they had this phobia then they should have been recieving treatment. To say she shouldn't work at McDonalds or working with the publicis a little much. Even the mentally ill have to make money somehow. That may be the only type of job this person can get. Retail type jobs are pretty much the only job someone like me (college degreee-less) or a teen can get.

 

[Paladin]

Note to everyone: McDonald's is not an ATM that you can withdraw from by suing them. Just because they have money doesn't mean it's there for the taknig. Same goes for Microsoft.

 

[sherri79]

Note to everyone: McDonald's is not an ATM that you can withdraw from by suing them. Just because they have money doesn't mean it's there for the taknig. Same goes for Microsoft.

ewww i agree with paladin. i shall seek help right away! :blowkiss:

 

[Paladin]

ewww i agree with paladin. i shall seek help right away! :blowkiss:

Let's make out! :crazy:

 

[sherri79]

Let's make out! :crazy:

i dont need that much help but thanks for the offer. :crazy:

 

[Hopeful One]

While I feel bad for the little person, people in this country are sue-happy. Is this really worth the time and money that will be spent on it? Come on now.

 

[golfmom]

By why would McDonald's be responsible?

Say you were in an accident with an uninsured drunk driver. Do you sue Jack Daniels? the auto maker? the store he bought his liquor from?

An employer should not be held responsible for behavior they clearly do not condone.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

People will sue for anything now a days that they think will get them some money. It's ridiculous. I agree the person with the supposed phobia should of NOT took off running and screaming that was a little immature. They should of turned around and removed theirself from the situation immediately.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

Should have would have could have...but didn't. Like I said, if a person is scared (has a phobia) of clowns...they don't take a job at a circus. Like Eire or I would not take a job handling snakes at the Zoo (Yes, I share that phobia!).

If she had done something to scar this person physically for the rest of his life, there would be no question as to his right to file a lawsuit against McD's. She did something which can be proven to scar this person emotionally long term. I don't see what is so hard to understand. Just because this man didn't have blisters on his face and was disfigured by her action...does not mean he doesn't hold the same rights.

A frivolous lawsuit is one that no real damage was done and was brought on in an obvious attempt to specifically siphon money from the company such as a man who ate too many times at McD's and got fat because of it. He can lose the weight. This is not in the same vein.

 

[montana_16]

IF they had this phobia then they should have been recieving treatment. To say she shouldn't work at McDonalds or working with the publicis a little much. Even the mentally ill have to make money somehow. That may be the only type of job this person can get. Retail type jobs are pretty much the only job someone like me (college degreee-less) or a teen can get.

I understand what you're saying about jobs, but this lady could have done other duties that didn't involve working with the public. I worked at a food service job for ten years and only a few of us worked with the public. There are plenty of things a person can do behind the scenes.

If this woman knew there was a chance that she could treat an innocent person so horribly because of her phobia, then she should not have applied for a job working directly with the public. That's all I'm saying.

 

[Paladin]

Should have would have could have...but didn't. Like I said, if a person is scared (has a phobia) of clowns...they don't take a job at a circus.

If she had done something to scar this person physically for the rest of his life, there would be no question as to his right to file a lawsuit against McD's. She did something which can be proven to scar this person emotionally long term. I don't see what is so hard to understand. Just because this man didn't have blisters on his face and was disfigured by her action...does not mean he doesn't hold the same rights.

A frivolous lawsuit is one that no real damage was done and was brought on in an obvious attempt to specifically siphon money from the company such as a man who ate too many times at McD's and got fat because of it. He can lose the weight. This is not in the same vein.

So you condone lawsuits based off of someone's feelings being hurt?

 

[goddess]

No WAY should this LP win. So what if she was scared of him? It is NOT ILLEGAL to run away from someone, this is just nuts. Rather sounds like the LP has a screw loose.

 

[SeriouslySearching]

This is much more than that, imo.

 

[2sisters]

Should have would have could have...but didn't. Like I said, if a person is scared (has a phobia) of clowns...they don't take a job at a circus.

If she had done something to scar this person physically for the rest of his life, there would be no question as to his right to file a lawsuit against McD's. She did something which can be proven to scar this person emotionally long term. I don't see what is so hard to understand. Just because this man didn't have blisters on his face and was disfigured by her action...does not mean he doesn't hold the same right

I get what yall are saying and understand and respect it but where could a person who is phobic of little people ( I do not know what the PC term is, sorry) work? I mean, wherever you go you are bound to see one at one point, but it really isn't that common of something you see daily. Either that or I just don't notice. I could agree with your point more if she worked for a specialist who specifically treats little people.
if you are phobic of anything, you shouldn't be expected to live in a box. The employee in question has bills and needs like all of us. Of course if you are scared of clowns you won't work at a circus, McDonalds isn't a little person haven though, it is not like that place or anyplace is filled with them all day like clowns in a circus.