GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Federal prosecutors said Walmart violated legal protections for military service members for allegedly refusing to hire a Colorado Navy reservist because she needed to take time off for training.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Colorado said a personnel coordinator who contacted Navy Petty Officer Lindsey Hunger about her application for a summer job at a Grand Junction Walmart in 2016 told her the company couldn't support giving her two weeks off.
The suit says she was supporting two children and wasn't able to find other employment that summer and fall.
Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said the allegations are extremely disturbing.
He said Walmart has policies and training to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and has several thousand associates on military leave at any given time.
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