Seenaa Najim
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A Dearborn Walmart employee is suing the company for discrimination and abuse she endured on the job from two managers for being Arabic and Muslim, Detroit attorney Nabih Ayad said.
The suit, filed Oct. 14 in Wayne County Circuit Court against Walmart and two of its managers at the Dearborn store, 5851 Mercury Drive, alleges that Seena Suhail Najim, 46, of Inkster, an Iraqi refugee with permanent legal resident status, was discriminated against because of her national origin and religion, creating a hostile work environment and intentionally inflicting emotional distress.
Najim was allegedly ridiculed for wearing a hijab, and called a “camel jockey,” and told “Arabs are sh—” “Muslims are sh—” and to “go home.”
She said she was also called “stupid” and “dumb” for not speaking or understanding the English language fluently, and was verbally attacked and insulted on multiple occasions by the two managers, in front of other employees and customers. The verbal attacks occurred at least twice a week.
Najim’s complaints to at least two higher-up managers went unheeded, and she was warned by others employees that she would be in physical danger if she continued to complain about the actions of the two managers.
She began working at the Dearborn Walmart in 2020, working more than 40 hours per week, five days a week, in the juvenile girls clothing department, at $12 per hour, with no benefits.
In October of this year, Najim went on a medical leave of absence because the mental anguish and trauma she endured manifested itself physically in the form of anxiety, depression, headache, severe depressive episodes, chest pains and shortness of breath.
The Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits a Michigan employer from discriminating against an employee on account of their religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, weight or marital status. A violation of the act can result in injunctive relief, damages, or both, including attorney fees.
The relief sought by the plaintiff includes a declaration that the defendants’ actions were unlawful, the awarding of lost wages and benefits, past and future, to which she is entitled, compensatory and punitive damages, treble (triple) damages, attorney fees, costs and interest, and other legal and equitable relief deemed just and proper by the court.
An Oct. 14 Detroit News article quoted Jacquelyn Cook, Walmart senior manager of corporate communications, who said the company would respond once it has been served with the complaint.
“We take allegations like this seriously and want all our associates to feel welcome and respected,” she said.