Comments on: Don’t tell ‘Grandma’ she’s being demoted

By: zachary

zachary — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:52:50 +0000

Lesson here is someone that took pride in her job went to work all the time, worked overtime, and was appreciated by her team members. Didnt know what sick days were and gave everyone the respect they deserved and treated everyone fair. One of the hardest working woman i know. Retirement was not in her near future. She actually has alot more kick than some of the younger staff. She took pride in her work and showed that the 18 years she was with the company. And because of downsizing and tryin to reel in more profits Best Buy let go alot of good people who were major asetts to the company. Its a shame that it has come to this but making people feel like they arent doin their job when in actuality she succeeded in almost every goal given to her she was made to look bad. Not only age discrimination but also defamation of character.

By: Emma

Emma — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:40:50 +0000

Jolyn McDonald was fired not quit like the article states.

By: Top 10 HR Blunders of 2008 | HRBlunders.com | The worst mistakes, catastrophes, and near-misses

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:03:41 +0000

[...] Don’t tell ‘Grandma’ she’s being fired. Jolyn McDonald was called Grandma by her manager at a Best Buy. The same manager demoted her [...]

By: Gene McIntyre

Gene McIntyre — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:19:50 +0000

Yes, in a prior employment, as a Director of HR, I took place in an EEO mediation meeting with the loveliest team member you would ever meet. She too, was called grandma and had a very much self-deprecating humor about how old she was. People around her, played right along. After she quit employment, she took us to EEOC saying that she had quit because she could no longer tolerate all the harassment about her age. We met with her at the EEOC mediation meeting and agreed on flowers and an apology note. I’ve always thought about this case and conclude she must have felt lonely and not too appreciated after retiring and that she might have brought herself to feel this way, just so that she could garner some attention. The lesson learned for all parties involved was – there are just matters than we should not joke about at work, period. Thanks all.

By: R. B.

R. B. — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:58:50 +0000

Had a lawsuit once where a Hispanic employee was claiming discrimination because people in his work group called him by the nickname “Tree Trimmer.” I still don’t know if there is some kind of derogatory ethnic / racial connotation associated with that particular term…have never heard it used as such before or since. But the reason they called him that was because he and a relative had a tree trimming business on the side. Needless to say, we were awarded summary judgment, but we still spent a fair amount in attorney fees. I do discourage the use of nicknames in the work environment, but it’s prevalent, especially in production areas. If I hear one that sounds disrespectful, I step in.

By: Darice Catherine Claude-Bordley

Darice Catherine Claude-Bordley — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:24:10 +0000

Prayerful She will get a BIG FAT SETTLEMENT.
I am the eldest person @ my workplace and I am treated as an equal with a great deal of respect, not because of my age but because I am considered another employee with something to contribute. Makes for a great team.

By: Tomas

Tomas — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:22:14 +0000

I honestly don’t know if there is age discrimination, but I can’t get a job interview even though I have a wealth of experience — and I’m younger than John McCain.