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Canadian woman fired after having severe allergic reaction while at work

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

(Facebook/Danielle Duperreault)

By Cox Media Group National Content Desk

A Canadian woman was fired from her job after suffering an allergic reaction while she was at work.

Danielle Duperreault, 18, a former sales associate at an Urban Planet retailer, said she came in contact with bell peppers, to which she is "severely allergic to" while on the clock at the store. 
"I called a manager upstairs and one came up asking me what was wrong, at that point my airway was already closing," Duperreault wrote in a message on Facebook. "She proceeded to show a tremendous amount of attitude. I did not have an epi pen on me at the time because mine was expired and I needed to get a prescription for a new one. So she told me to go look in my car then proceeded to of wander off."
Duperreault said she became faint, nauseous and light-headed. Concerned co-workers asked how they could help her, and ultimately, one co-worker rushed her to a medical clinic, where she received epinephrine. 
"My throat had almost completely closed and I nearly passed out due to lack of oxygen," Duperreault wrote. "The doctors said if I would have waited another ten minutes I would be dead."

Later, while Duperreault was in an ambulance, her supervisor texted her. Instead of asking how she was doing, the supervisor fired her.

"I gave your shifts away this week, and unfortunately, I won't be scheduling you any longer," the boss wrote in a text message that Duperreault posted online. "We will mail your last pay stub to you. Take care, wish you all the best."

"I feel like I was fired for having another allergic reaction because I had another one before, but it went really well because I had my EpiPen with me," Duperreault, who had been working at the retailer for two months, told CBC. "Everything was calm and cool and I went to the hospital. This one was handled terribly."

The supervisor also fired the co-worker who took Duperreault to the clinic, according to the post.

But Duperreault's post didn't seem to be filled with anger toward the supervisor. She said her aim was to "raise awareness about allergies in the workplace."

"I firmly believe that there should always be an epi pen on hand in every store," Duperreault wrote. "Who knows if a customer needs one in an emergency or someone who doesn't know they have allergies and doesn't own an epi pen. And frankly everyone I talked to about this believes that if she seen a customer in peril, she'd jump in to help... There should be training on how to administer an epi pen, how to handle a situation like that, and how to deal with the after math."

Y.M. Inc., the parent company of Urban Planet, told BuzzFeed that the CEO apologized to Duperreault for the incident. "We have thoroughly investigated this. Simply put, the actions were unacceptable," a spokesperson said. "We take very seriously the health and well-being of all our employees. We have reached out to Ms. Duperreault and we would ask for everyone's patience as we work through this situation."

Dupperreault told CBC News the company has promised to pay her until she finds a new job.

"That’s more than I could’ve asked for," she said.

The original post has been shared nearly 18,000 times.

I got fired today, from Urban Planet. And you all would probably think it would be over tardiness or not doing my job...

Posted by Danielle Duperreault on Monday, June 20, 2016

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