Starbucks Worker Fired, Loses Life Insurance: National Post

Former Starbucks employee Lisa Pedersen has sued her employer for wrongful dismissal. After experiencing ongoing health concerns, Pedersen reported her symptoms to a manager.

Pedersen was requested to continue working due to staffing shortages. As the symptoms continued, Pedersen was then instructed to remain home and underwent a COVID-19 test.

Despite a negative result, Lisa was still terminated without cause for violating health and safety policies. Starbucks refused to respond to Pedersen’s appeal despite an eventual diagnosis of terminal blood cancer.

Aaron Levitin, an Alberta employment lawyer and Associate at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, is representing Pedersen. He spoke to the National Post about the lawsuit as well as the possible outcome.

Pedersen’s lawsuit states the loss of employment led to a devastating loss of life insurance.

“The claim states that if Pedersen received proper notice before her termination, she would have had the opportunity to convert her Starbucks life insurance policy through Desjardins Insurance into an individual policy.”

Levitin lamented on the quality time that Pedersen will lose with her children during this legal process.

“What Lisa has experienced is truly heartbreaking. She was unfairly reprimanded by Starbucks over symptoms believed to be COVID-19 related when they were actually related to blood cancer,” said Levitin.

“She deserves to be spending quality time with loved ones and focusing on her health. Instead, she has to take legal action against an employer she genuinely respected to secure the financial support that she desperately needs.”