Subway Worker Claims She Was Forced To Work While Vomiting
A Subway worker in Freeport, Texas, claims she was forced to continue working her shift while suffering from a stomach bug, then was fired the same day.
Elizabeth Taff, 24, says she was so sick she could barely stand up straight and vomited several times during her shift on July 11, but her manager refused to let her leave unless she found someone to cover her shift.
"About 40 minutes into my shift I felt nauseous. My mouth started watering, and I knew I was about to vomit. I ran into the restroom and vomited repeatedly," Taff told The Huffington Post. "I went and let my manager know, [but] she told me to find my own replacement after lunch rush."
Taff says she then summoned enough strength to get through the lunch rush, hoping to track down another employee to fill in for her. But no one else was available, she said.
She noticed vomit on her work clothes and, rather than take a pay cut for a new work shirt, phoned home for someone to bring her a clean outfit, she said. She also maintains she didn't leave work for fear of getting fired and losing her paycheck.
This is a common dilemma facing many hourly wage workers. Because paid sick leave largely doesn't exist in the food service industry, workers may risk their health and the health of customers by coming in to work when they should be staying home.
First published on July 18th 2014 by: Emily Thomas
