Pilgrim’s Pride Shakes Claims of Worker Fired Over Absences

A supervisor at a Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Florida failed to show his violations of the company’s absence policy were a cover for disability discrimination, the Eleventh Circuit ruled April 9.

Michael Duckworth didn’t show up for work several times in January 2014, the court said. Each time he failed to call in to report his absence at least two hours prior to the start of his shift, as required of supervisors under Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.‘s attendance rules.

He instead provided notice after his shift had started, sometimes emailing nonsupervisory employees, the court said. On one occasion, Duckworth failed ...