Burger King restaurant 'kept transgender employee on the clock for a full week while she displayed coronavirus symptoms before blaming her death on hormone injections'
A Burger King restaurant in California has been accused of keeping a transgender employee on the clock despite her showing symptoms of coronavirus, and later blaming her death on her 'hormone injections.'
Angela Martinez Gomez, from Oaxaca, Mexico, died last Monday after working her last shift at the fast food chain on Pico Blvd in Santa Monica on June 29.
Her death has sparked outrage among co-workers, including one woman who has since filed a complaint with the LA Department of Public Health, claiming restaurant managers failed to take action when Angela continued to work while ill.
Yolanda Garcia says she is now the third worker to develop symptoms of COVID-19, but claims Burger King is yet to contact any employees about quarantining or getting tested after managers allegedly said Angela had died from injecting herself with hormones.
She also accused management of failing to enforce social distancing in the workplace and not providing workers with new face masks for each shift.
According to the complaint, obtained by The Santa Monica Daily Press, Angela had shown up to her job coughing, feeling nauseous and was frequently taking bathroom breaks.
The 42-year-old was reportedly treating herself with cough medicine, before finally leaving work sick early on her last day.
Employees have claimed Burger King failed to take proper health precautions at the Santa Monica location and say the company has blamed her death on 'hormone injections'
Co-worker Yolanda Garcia (pictured) has since filed a complaint with LA Department of Public Health, saying she is now the third employee to begin showing symptoms of COVID-19
Garcia claimed another female employee, identified as Mariela, soon after started displaying symptoms and a fever, but was again allowed to continue working.
'Burger King has not told us there are COVID-19 cases or suspected cases at the store and they are not being honest about what happened with Angela and Mariela,' Garcia states in her complaint.
'Angela had COVID-19 symptoms at work, but Burger King blamed her sexuality instead of COVID-19 as the cause of her death.
'I told [the manager] I was going to get tested for COVID-19, and she said she was going to get tested too, but she also said she didn't think Angela died of COVID-19, she said Angela died of injecting hormones. That doesn't make sense to me,' Garcia added.
In a statement to CBS LA on Saturday, a Burger King spokesperson said the company never received reports of coronavirus symptoms from that location and they are yet to confirm that Angela died from the respiratory disease.
Angela's death have triggered protests outside the restaurant. Pictured: A woman holds up a white rose while driving by a demonstration on Friday
Family members have launched a GoFundMe campaign hoping to raise money to cover the costs of her funeral
'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Angela Martinez Gómez, who had worked at Burger King for more than fifteen years,' the spokesperson said.
'The restaurant will undergo a deep disinfection this evening.'
Burger King said it is also investigating the reports of 'transphobic comments' and vowed to take 'swift action' in the case.
'They do not align with our values and are unacceptable. Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment is a priority for us and we will be sure to take swift action in this case.'
Meanwhile, employees have staged protests outside the fast food restaurant in the wake of Angela's death.
Photos showed grieving co-workers holding up placards with her photo reading 'Say her name'.
Family members have also launched a Go Fund Me campaign hoping to raise money to cover the costs of her funeral.
'Angela left a mark on all the people that met her, she was always a very happy and humble individual', the page states.
'Her friends, family and acquaintances will always carry her in our hearts. She taught us to fight for our dreams and to be ourselves. For those reasons and for many more, we will miss her so much for the rest of our lives.'
