Ex-Walmart worker accusation | It's not just 'toilet trouble' - employers need to stop punishing workers with IBS

A former Walmart worker has claimed he was sacked by the retail giant after having an accident caused by his irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The ex-employee, 26, took to Reddit to explain the situation and seek advice on whether it is it was an unfair dismissal worthy of legal action.

“I have IBS which the management team knows about,” he writes. “I work at Walmart and I was stocking some groceries and I felt The Urge, so I ran to the bathroom… I called the store and told my manager I was leaving and wanted to let him know so I didn't get fired. I said I was still here and that I wasn't abandoning my job, it's just that I s**t myself due to my IBS.”

According to the employee's account, his manager advised him to “use PPTO if you have any.” PPTO, or ‘Protected Paid Time Off,’ is Walmart’s paid sick leave policy offered to hourly workers. Introduced in 2019, store and warehouse workers can earn up to 48 hours of paid sick leave per year. Walmart says the time “can be used to cover an unplanned absence.”

However, the former employee claims when he told the manager he had no PPTO left to use, the manager said ‘Okay’ and hung up. He then accuses Walmart’s store management of firing him for the incident which they allegedly said was “gross.”

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"I literally have IBS and I didn't do it on purpose," the post concludes.

At this stage, Walmart has not addressed the claims publicly and is unlikely to so long as it remains confined to a social media accusation, rather than a formal lawsuit, though the worker was encouraged to do so by other Reddit users, who cited U.S. federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

At present, there is no evidence to support the employee’s claims. However, Walmart has faced heavy scrutiny over the application of its sick leave policies, including after a worker died whilst on shift at a store in Arkansas, where the retailer is headquartered. Moreover, a survey by United for Respect of 1,500 Walmart associates revealed an “inadequate and unevenly applied emergency leave policy.”

But more broadly than Walmart, there is undoubtedly a wider issue in the U.S. – a lack of understanding, awareness, and support for workers who suffer with IBS. Other employers like Amazon, for example, have been sued over their handling of workers with IBS.

Why HR must improve IBS awareness and support

IBS causes uncomfortable or painful abdominal symptoms and altered bowel habits such as constipation, diarrhea, and bloating, among others. It affects nearly around 10% to 15% of adults in the United States.

The impact of IBS on the U.S. workforce is vastly underestimated. According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), it is the second leading cause of work absenteeism (only the common cold causes more absences) and restricts the personal and professional activities of those who suffer from IBS for an average of 20 percent of the year.

The cost to society through work absenteeism and medical costs totals some $21billion per year before we even address the human cost and suffering from the condition.

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Improving awareness is a critical first step, with many individuals simply unaware of how the condition can impact people. April is IBS awareness month, presenting a fantastic opportunity to educate your workforce on what IBS is, how it affects workers, and what employees and managers can do to support their peers who suffer from the condition.

There is also work for HR to do, to prevent the worst-case scenarios where employees lose their job simply because of the condition. This can range from reviewing sick leave policies and whether the policies are evenly and fairly applied in practice, to training managers on giving the appropriate support and flexibility to employees on their team.

Another option is expanding medical benefits, working with providers who can offer workers with IBS personalized treatment programs.

And with IBS awareness month and World IBS Day (April 19^th) on the horizon, there’s no better time to get started on reviewing and improving the year-round support you offer to workers with these conditions.