Umbrellas ‘Bad for Morale’?

PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - The supervisor of a carpenter who injured his foot on the job made the worker sit outside in the rain for hours and forbid him from using an umbrella, because they were "bad for morale," according to a lawsuit in Multnomah County Court.

Michael Peede says his doctor released him to work four hours standing, but told him he had to sit for four hours.

Peede was assigned concrete work in Oregon. He claims his employer, Andersen Structures, forced him "to sit on a metal chair outside for four hours a day doing nothing." He was not allowed to sit in his truck or anywhere indoors, the lawsuit claims.

One day, as Peede was sitting in the rain holding an umbrella, he claims supervisor Mike Pierce approached him and told him to stop using the umbrella.

"Plaintiff asked Mr. Pierce if he was serious," the suit states. "Mr. Pierce confirmed that he was."

Pierce allegedly explained that it was "bad for morale" to see Peede using an umbrella.

The plaintiff later walked off the job.

He is represented by Martin Dolan with Dolan Griggs LLP.

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