Muscatine

This article is for everyone in Muscatine to see how the Menards Home
Improvement Store here in town treats their employees. Corey Leonhard of
Muscatine was employed by Menards in Muscatine until recently. Corey is a
Special Olympics athlete who was invited to participate in the World Special Olympics in Shanghai, China. Corey, whom proudly is representing the U.S.A, Iowa, and all of his proud family and friends here in Muscatine, was ok'ed by Menards to take the time off of work to attend the games and was assured his job when he returned. While Corey was in China, He won 3 medals, two which were golds. When He returned to Muscatine, Corey was to return to work. On his first day back, he was informed by Menards that he no longer had a job with them. When asked for a reason, He was not given one and was only told that it was the corporate offices decision. So now after representing his country proudly, what were his thanks by his employer??

Unemployment!!

My question is, does Menards treat everyone of their employees this way, or is it discrimination and they only treat handicapped people this way???

Anyone else who think's this is totally outrageous feel free to call the Muscatine Menards, ask for the store manager, Jody Martin, phone number below, and ask him why Corey's position was taken away from him. I also told him that I would no longer be doing my shopping at Menards in Muscatine for my Home Improvement needs, that I would travel to Davenport to do my shopping at Lowes or Home Depot. Also please pass this along to everyone you know in Muscatine, and elsewhere to let them know how Menards treat their special employees. Below is Menards Corporate phone number, call them and let them now how this makes you feel.

MENARDS CORERATE OFFICE 1-800-871-2800

MUSCATINE MENARDS, STORE MANAGER, JODY MARTIN 563-262-0103

Troubling if true.

But this sounds like one of those deals where we haven't heard the ''rest of the story'', or at least the other side.

troubling, but reality



As a citizen of Muscatine, I am very proud of Cory's achievement at Special Olympics.

Olympics, though, whether traditional, or Special Olympics, are not like military service, where employers are encouraged and/or forced to hold jobs open for these people when they return.

Athletes, when choosing to participate, must realize they cannot ''do it all''. sometimes they have to choose between a job they love, and chasing their passion to win a medal or award of some kind. I don't think you can expect an employer to accommodate all of this.

While I'm proud of Cory, and glad he had a great experience, and was honored for his accomplishments at international Special Olympics, I don't think it's fair to hold Menard's in contempt because they didn't want to hold his job open forever.

I know more than a few people who work at Menard's, and it doesn't appear, comparatively, to be a bad place to work! While I appreciate the intention behind this author's post, I don't think being mentally disabled should provide any EXTRA opportunities, and therefore no extra consideration for missing work for an extended period of time.

Cory's Mom



Cory's Mom posted in the comments section under the online Journal story that they realized their mistake; and that he got his job back.