Hackettstown, NJ – Theresa Kwiecinski, 46, has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court against Mars Chocolate North America for wrongful termination, citing she was unfairly dismissed primarily for being openly gay. According to the complaint, Mars Chocolate is guilty of discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Kwiecinski began working as a commercial manager for external manufacturing at Mars Chocolate in October 1999. Mars Chocolate is known for their iconic candy brands like M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, and Twix.

The Plaintiff alleges in her 11-page filing, colleagues treated her differently after a weeklong 2011 work retreat in Florida. Employees and family were in attendance. While at the conference Kwiecinski introduced her co-workers to her partner Dana and son Mason. Thereafter she noticed an increase in work volatility. Supervisors began assigning an unreasonable work load, longer hours, and requests for assistance went ignored.

Prior to the Florida conference, Kwiecinski had already been hindered with an unfair performance review in February 2010. Conducted by a newly hired supervisor, it described her as performing “below expectations.” The professional assessment also penalized her for failing to “prepare enough for her maternity leave.”

Leading up to the unfavorable review, Kwiecinski had been hospitalized with unexpected complications surrounding her pregnancy, and then required maternity leave from work. Kwiecinski’s gave birth to her son Mason that August, and she took a six-month maternity leave that ended in January 2011. Supervisors warned her afterwards she was a “performance risk,” having been absent for such a prolonged period.

The lawsuit highlights how Kwiecinski felt targeted over both her medical status and sexual orientation. The bias reviews persisted, ultimately resulting in Kwiecinski’s dismissal.

Do you think she was legitimately fired for taking off too much time? Or do you think she was right to file for discrimination?

Lesbian Claims Candy Maker Mars Fired Her Over Her Sexual Orientation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Mars Candy Chocolate Relief Act

All you have to do is head over to RealChocolate.com on any (or every) Friday between now and September 25. Mars Candy will give coupons for free full-size candy bars — your choice of Snickers, Twix, Dove, 3 Musketeers, or M&Ms — to the first 250,000 people who sign in.

The weekly giveaway will open at 9 a.m. ET and close at 11:59 p.m. ET, or whenever 250,000 coupons have been printed.

You’ll have to give some basic info to get the goods: name, e-mail, and mailing address. The coupon will then be mailed your way within five weeks. You can only get one per e-mail address per Friday, and four per mailing address total over the entire five-month period.

Not too shabby.

Mmm…Mars Candy’s Chocolate Relief Act is a post from: The Inquisitr