WinCo Faces a Transgender Discrimination Lawsuit
A Visalia woman is suing her former employer–WinCo Holdings, Inc.–for alleged discrimination and unlawful dismissal based on her status as a transgender person.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Carlee MacRae by Visalia attorney Brett Abbott, also alleges WinCo engaged in a number of other violations of state employment law that amount to unfair business practices. The suit lists a series of 10 complaints against the Idaho-based grocery chain. WinCo operates stores locally in Visalia–where MacRae worked–as well as in Fresno and Bakersfield.
In addition to allegations of unfair treatment because of her gender, MacRae’s suit also alleges her managers at WinCo further discriminated against her because of her acute depression, and did not make accommodations for MacRae following debilitating knee surgeries. Management also allegedly engaged in “jury duty” retaliation, failed to prove paid breaks and eventually fired MacRae because of her gender and her disabilities.
