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Walmart grants reprieve to disabled store workers caught in job change squeeze

Patriot-News - 3/1/2019

March 01-- Mar. 1--Walmart said Thursday it is postponing indefinitely any layoffs caused by changes to its traditional "people greeter" positions that left disabled employees across the nation worried about losing their jobs.

Many of those workers, including Adam Catlin, a Selinsgrove man profiled by PennLive last week, were told they might be out of a job in April as a large batch of stores move from the greeters to an expanded "customer host" role that could involve more physical labor and being a part of theft prevention efforts.

Echoes of Catlin's story had been popping up in communities with Walmarts across the country in recent days.

Those workers received a reprieve Thursday from the nation's largest retailer.

In an email to Pennlive and other news outlets, Walmart stated, in part:

"We recognize that our associates with physical disabilities face a unique situation. With that in mind, we will be extending the current 60-day greeter transition period for associates with disabilities while we explore the circumstances and potential accommodations, for each individual, that can be made within each store.

"This allows these associates to continue their employment at the store as valued members of the team while we seek an acceptable, customized solution for all of those involved."

Walmart spokesman Justin Rushing said the extension of the transition period is indefinite, and that the goal is to keep as many of the affected workers with disabilities on staff as possible.

Catlin's mother, Holly, confirmed Thursday Adam is one of the workers that is being offered alternative positions.

"We have had a call from the Walmart corporate office that we feel really good about," she wrote on her Facebook page. "There are some things in the works, not finalized, but in the works. I will post the details after we meet tomorrow to discuss Adam's path forward."

In a subsequent telephone interview with PennLive, Holly Catlin said that while she didn't have all the specifics on Adam's new offer yet, "it sounds like they're going to be very accommodating to his disability... I feel very confident that it's going to work."

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