A former Walmart team lead has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the retail giant failed to protect him after he repeatedly reported workplace sexual harassment and ultimately retaliated against him by terminating his employment.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleges violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New York State Human Rights Law. Shawn White, who worked for Walmart from 2019 through 2023 at stores in Uniondale and Valley Stream, claims the company failed to properly investigate his complaints, failed to enforce its own workplace policies, and retaliated against him after he repeatedly sought help through internal reporting channels.
According to the complaint, White reported alleged harassment to supervisors, Walmart’s Ethics department, and Associate Relations over a period of several years. The lawsuit contends that the company either failed to adequately investigate his concerns or provided only limited responses without explaining what corrective action, if any, had been taken.
The complaint further alleges that after White reported the conduct, he experienced a pattern of disciplinary actions that culminated in his termination. White contends the disciplinary record was used as a pretext for retaliation, despite his history of positive performance evaluations.
“Ultimately, I just want Walmart to do better,” White said. “They have systems and things in place, or they claim to, but I wasn’t helped by that system.”
White’s attorney, Matthew Berman, from Valli Kane & Vagnini, couldn’t agree more, saying: “A harassment policy only means something if the company enforces it. Walmart had the protocols on paper, but Shawn White was left unprotected when it counted. We brought this case to turn his experience into real accountability and real change.”
White’s case has received support from the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund at the National Women’s Law Center.
“Sex harassment is, at its core, about an imbalance of power. It affects people of every sex and gender identity,” Jennifer Mondino, senior director of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund at the National Women’s Law Center, said in a statement. “Too often, men and people who don’t identify as women face additional stigma and disbelief when they come forward.”
Mondino added, “Workers should never face retaliation for reporting abuse, and Walmart must answer when they fail to protect their workers.”
Federal and New York law prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who report unlawful workplace harassment or discrimination. Employers also have a legal obligation to take complaints seriously and conduct appropriate investigations when concerns are raised.
Berman spoke about what this lawsuit could mean for other Walmart employees, saying “It takes real courage to come forward against a company the size of Walmart. Shawn White did it not just for himself, but so the next employee is met with protection instead of silence. We’re proud to represent him.“
White’s lawsuit seeks lost wages and benefits, compensatory damages, damages for emotional distress, attorneys’ fees, and other relief. The allegations remain pending before the court, and Walmart has denied the claims by declining to comment on the active litigation.
You can read additional coverage about the case in the Long Island Herald.
