A Washington jury found in favor of a former Walmart employee who alleged a supervisor had retaliated against her for reporting that the supervisor failed to address a colleague’s sexual harassment of the plaintiff’s co-workers.
The worker began as an overnight stocker at a Yakima, Washington, Walmart store in May 2021, according to an amended complaint filed in February 2024. That November, the plaintiff was approached by a colleague and told that a fellow co-worker had sexually harassed her. The plaintiff encouraged her colleague to report the harassment, and she believed the worker informed their supervisor that night.
The following March, the plaintiff was told by a different co-worker that the same colleague had sexually harassed her. Several days later, the plaintiff reported the behavior to the supervisor, who said the alleged harasser “did not look like the type” and did not appear to take the reports seriously, according to the complaint.
Shortly after, the plaintiff called a Walmart ethics hotline to report the situation. A few weeks later, she attended a virtual meeting with a global notification team member to detail what happened. She was told there would be an investigation into the alleged harasser’s conduct and into the supervisor’s failure to report the harassment.
A few weeks later, the plaintiff was fired for allegedly racking up too many absences, despite a colleague with more absences remaining employed, according to the complaint. While the plaintiff reported the firing and her belief it was retaliation to the Walmart ethics line and several leaders — and was apparently met with confusion about the supervisor’s behavior — nothing happened to address the situation, according to the complaint.
A jury trial kicked off June 10. After a trial lasting several days and one day of deliberations, the jury returned its verdict on Tuesday, finding Walmart violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It levied $500,000 in compensatory damages and $22,500,000 in punitive damages.
“We do not tolerate harassment or retaliation of any kind,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement released to HR Dive. “We are disappointed in the jury’s decision and reviewing our options, including post-trial motions.”