Termination of longtime Walmart employee raises public concern

Public outrage is not rolling back this holiday season following the termination of longtime Walmart Supercenter #1322 employee Lemuel "Lem" Peoples Jr.

Lem, who has worked almost 20 years with the company, expresses pride in his journey at Walmart Supercenter located on Lowes Blvd in Lexington, NC. During his tenure, this hometown native advanced through the corporate ranks, starting as a janitorial associate and eventually becoming an associate responsible for preventing theft by matching receipts with the items in customers' carts.

Daughter Jeanna Peoples wrote in a statement, "My daddy, Lemuel People's Jr., has worked at Walmart Supercenter for over 19 years. He has been with the company since the doors opened," she went on to say, "My father was recently fired, just two years shy of his retirement that he was so excited to receive. He couldn't wait to spend his days with his many grandchildren. My father received Employee of the Month several times while working for Walmart..."

Jeanna offered a compelling interpretation of events about her father's termination. "My dad recently had some health issues which caused him to be hospitalized for several days. He had notes for these days. However, Walmart still chose to let him go," Jeanna said. "My daddy came back to work still not being 100%, but he came anyway. They let him work all the way up to 10 minutes before his shift was over that day to call him into the office and tell him that they have to let him go because of his recent hospital stay. Every day my dad has missed, he had a doctor's note. He also has never had a vehicle and was still able to make it to work on time every day, unless he was sick."

North Carolina is an at-will employment state, meaning that an employer can terminate an employee's position at any time. An employer does not need to provide a valid reason—or any reason— to end the employment relationship. However, according to the North Carolina Justice Center, there are exceptions to the at-will rule. The most common exceptions include:

• An employment contract that sets out the terms and conditions of employment and limits an employer's ability to fire the employee at will.

• A termination that violates federal and state employment statutes prohibiting discrimination or retaliation.

• A firing that violates a particular public policy.

Jenna, Lem's spokesperson, claims he was informed that his absences led to this situation, raising questions about whether the Family Medical Leave Act could have provided protection during his health issues.

Walmart Store #1322 employees declined to discuss Lem's termination or provide access to a spokesperson. In multiple attempts to contact management, they stated, "We cannot speak to the media." Employees also refused to provide any regional or national media contacts. Jeanna, Lem's spokesperson, claims he was informed that his absences led to this situation, raising questions about whether the Family Medical Leave Act could have provided protection during his recent health issues.

Although Walmart does not disclose specific termination statistics, common categories can be identified through employee self-reports.

According to glassdoor.com national crowdsourced insights of Walmart terminations, attendance issues rank the highest.

Attendance Issues 32%

Failed Drug/Alcohol Tests 12%

Insubordination / Policy Violations 28%

Poor Job Performance 18%

Attendance appears the leading cause, suggesting Walmart's point-based absence policy drives many terminations. Performance and policy issues also contribute significantly, according to these statistics.

Several individual lawsuits have been filed against Walmart, claiming that management has neglected to provide necessary accommodations for disabled employees. These failures have reportedly led to terminations, particularly regarding attendance issues related to health needs.

One notable case from 2012 gained significant attention when an employee with Cerebral Palsy alleged wrongful termination due to disability discrimination following a customer complaint. Legal experts considered this firing to be unjust, especially given the employee's well-documented medical condition.

As a large employer, Walmart faces ongoing allegations of unfair or inappropriate termination practices related to discrimination and inadequate accommodation for disabled workers. Although most of these cases do not meet the legal threshold for success, the recurring complaints continue to pressure Walmart to strengthen and uphold proper protocols.

Several individual lawsuits have been filed against Walmart, claiming that management has neglected to provide necessary accommodations for disabled employees. These failures have reportedly led to terminations, particularly regarding attendance issues related to health needs.

Pointing Out: How Walmart Unlawfully Punishes Workers for Medical Absences reports say punishing workers for absences related to illness or disability is not only unfair often against the law. "Based on our conversations with Walmart employees as well as survey results of over 1,000 current and former Walmart workers who have struggled due to  Walmart's absence control program, they conclude that Walmart may regularly be violating the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by failing to give adequate notice to its employees about when absences might be protected by the FMLA and by giving its employees disciplinary points for taking time to care for themselves, their children, their spouses  or their parents even though that time is covered by the FMLA."

Local customers didn't need a report to raise concerns. "Wal-Mart Supercenter of Lexington, you should be ashamed! It seems everyone is trying to eliminate the good in this world and it looks like you have decided to join in. When I think of Lexington Wal-mart, this is the face I think of. No matter what mood I'm in when I go in, this man would smile at me and immediately my aggravation and stress would melt away and I'd find myself smiling back," Smith went on to express the sentiments of many who commented on her post. "He was the sweetest, kindest and most inviting employee you had and you fired him. I don't know what your consequences will be for making such a dumb decision but I guarantee that one day you will reap what you have sown."

Several complaints suggest that Walmart should apologize to Lem but legal and personal reasons will make that unlikely.

Walmart has remained one of the largest employeers in Davidson County for several decades often providing access to a rural community with limited shopping options. "Walmart goes places before anybody else will," said one commenter.

Lem's family said the termination has taken an emotional toll on the former employee. Jeanna wrote, "He looked at the customers as family and misses them all so much. It brings him to tears when he talks about it."

The family has established a GoFundMe to help Lem with expenses.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.