On December 1 we blogged the story of Taneka Talley, an employee of the Dollar Tree stores who was stabbed to death at work by a deranged racist. We believed that Talley’s death was compensable under workers comp, as she died at work, performing her job (she was stocking shelves at the time of the assault). Dollar Tree’s TPA denied the claim under the theory that the death was not work related because the killer was motivated solely by Talley’s race (she was African American). A few of our readers agreed with the denial.
This was no personal dispute. Talley and her assailant had no prior relationship. She died because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If she had been stabbed on the street, there would be no workers comp claim. But she died while working, so in our view her orphaned son is entitled to benefits.
Dollar Tree’s mission statement refers specifically to the importance of good judgment: “Do the right thing for the right reasons.” Well, Dollar Tree has now agreed to pay the full amount allowed by California workers comp for death benefits. The company’s statement asserts that it was acting voluntarily because “we feel this is the right thing to do.” Mission accomplished!
In this emotion-laden situation, a literal and nit-picking interpretation of the law is simply not in the company’s best interests. To be sure, a case for denial can be made. They might even prevail in workers comp court (we doubt it), but Dollar Tree had much to lose in the court of public opinion. Some customers had called for a nationwide boycott and protesters picketed the Fairfield store where Talley died. With this agreement to pay the claim in full, Dollar Tree ends a public relations nightmare and preserves its standing in the community. Dimes to dollars, that’s money well spent.
