Is this discrimination!!!?

Question

Hi i was hired by Mcdonalds and started working today friday.Well I reported to work this morning and when I arrived was told by jose one of the managers to help the guys downstairs with the truck order that Mcdonalds was unloading to place in the stock room.Well when I went downstairs to help the two guys unload the two mexican employees that were there looked at me without saying a word like whos this new 39 year old white guy on the job and with out saying anything just continued to work even after I told the guy I was told to ask to expalin directions to me what I should do.well after a while I caught on and started working like they were. and I could tell they did not like the fact that I was there.well as the day progressed and It got be 11:30 I went and asked the manager jose if I could take lunch and he said sure go ahead.I took my meal and went outside and was eating with my friends I know from being homeless on the street and when it was time for me to go back to work the guy I was working with tells the manager no need for me to continue working as he sorta does not need to be folllowed around by me and the manager tells me to go ahead and call it a day and come back in monday after telling me yesterday that I would be working from 6 am to 2 pm fri-mon of this week and when I was let off work today it was only 12 pm well any way I went ahead and clocked out and he tells me if he can talk to me outside and so I said yes.when I went out side he tells me that he did not think it was cool that at my lunch time that I was sitting with about 3 of my homeless friends in a mcdonalds workshirt and if I wanted to continue to work for mcdonalds that I would not be able to hang out at my luch with anybody like my friends becuse he did not want a bad name for the resturant.after that I told him i quit becuse I do not choose one thing over another including my friends and at that time he went ahead and said that he would pay me from his pocket and for me to hand in my cap and shirt which i did and that was that.Do you guys think I have a discrimination suit due to me being homeless also and also do you think mcdonalds discriminated against the whites and other types of workers besides the mexicans.

Answer 1

Ask yourself this....Is it really a good idea to hang out with ANY friends on your lunch break at a brand new job?  Homeless or not?  Businesses usually like it when you keep your personal life separate.

My answer is no...it's NOT discrimination.  It was immature to quit your job.

Answer 2

No. "homeless" is not a protected classified group under anti-discrimination laws.

Answer 3

It depends on the law where you live, but in most US states a meal period that is 30 minutes or more is usually unpaid. Since it is unpaid, you cannot be told by a supervisor whom you can associate with. Infringing on your freedom of association is discrimination.

Unfortunately, you quit. If you would have been fired due to your freedom of association you would have a much stronger case. Additionally, your manager paying you from his pocket is illegal since taxes were not withheld.

You may want to contact your states attorney general. You could also consult an attorney, but an attorney may not take the case since the payout would likely be small because your monetary damages are minimal and since it happened over the course of one day and isn't several instances of discrimination.  

Answer 4

Some places, upon employment will make you sign a contract stating that you will uphold the image of the place you work for at all times.  

I don't know if McDonald's has something like this, but if you did not, then you might have a case. I'm not saying for SURE..but, if you were in a work uniform, and on work property when this occured, it might still fall into that "uphold company image" thing..but if they have nothing like that, and you were NOT on the clock, then you might consider talking to someone.  I find it odd though that McDonald's would take that attitude.  Because most of the ones I have known will employ the homeless as well as give them free meals.

Answer 5

That's a funny but very unfortunate story if it's true. I think your main problem right now is finding a job not filing a lawsuit!  

Answer 6

You don't have a suit in the least because YOU quit.

McDonald's has the right to limit the type of people in its establishments and on their grounds.  

Answer 7

well I don't know.. mcdonalds was founded by a white man.. I think they don't like you.. so I think it's not discrimination.. it's a bad treated..

Answer 8

Discrimination?

What is "discriminatory" about not wanting homeless people who are not paying customers on your business premises?

Answer 9

No...I don't think you have a "discrimination case".  

If you're homeless...why would you quit???  You need this job.  Just tell your friends that you'll see them AFTER you get off work.  If they were really your friends, they'd encourage you to keep working.