Entertainer at Poly Fired - Lipoa's Return!! & 'Ohana's changes

[Chuck S]

There still has to be more to this story than what is being presented here. I mean, Disney didn't fire the character CM accused of feeling up someone, they went to court, fought the case, and won. If Disney fought and kept a CM accused of actual physical touching, with a photo for evidence, it doesn't make sense to terminate a CM for simply having a bad photo moment, that was taken by a person on the floor.

 

[Marty Joe]

Sammie,
I appreciate you calling me out on the Venerables thing. In the future I will make a better attempt to dot my I's and cross my T's. I did, however, get that spelling from an earlier post. I said in an earlier post that I was just looking for a name. I never know who the manager of the poly was until now.

Now back to topic... I think it is great that so many "friends" on the DIS has Lipoa' back. I hope we have some success, though I doubt it. I realize that Dave Whatshisname will not respond to me or anyone else - I'm just trying to back up someone that I think a lot of. Our hearts are in the right place and I hope Lipoa knows this. The Poly will not be the same... P.S - Thanks alohaguy!.

 

[craps7or11]

Such a shame. My kids loved her and she seemed very sweet.

 

[alohaguy]

Great news!!!

Less than half-an-hour ago I heard from Lipoa, and she told me that she has been reinstated at Disney. She told me that after lengthy meetings with lawyers and the musician's union, Disney offered her position back. Also, despite all of the embarassment and downright confusion, she is glad to be back.

So, bottom line, Lipoa will be back at the Polynesian!! I don't know the exact date that she will start again, but will post when I find out.

This is a small portion of an e-mail she just sent me:


"Guess what? I've been reinstated!!!!!!!!!! Disney asked me to come back!!!!!!!!! There was a meeting with all the lawyers and everyone and they said they came to a settlement and had an offer for me and I accepted it with Graciousness. I am very very thankful and happy.

I feel that more than anything else, my good name has been restored. And that name is my dad's name and that means the most to me. I am grateful that people will see that righteousness has prevailed and all those ugly rumors they said about me weren't true!!! That was the worst thing for me about this whole fiasco was the rumors I heard about."


So thank you to everyone that showed support - whether any of it was seen by anyone at Disney or not, it doesn't matter, because Lipoa knew of everyone wishing her well and it made it easier for her to get through a difficult time.

So from everyone who wished her well and were stunned to hear of her situation: WELCOME BACK LIPOA!!!

I will post again with more details about how/why she was reinstated, when I get them - I suspect this will include some clear-cut admission of error on Disney's part, how else would they explain reinstating someone that had been terminated less than one month earlier? In the end, it was worth every bit of effort she put forth to fight - sometimes the little guy wins!

ALOHA

 

[natalielongstaff]

thats great news,ive been following this thread and im glad to see common sense prevailed

 

[Lesley]

Glad to hear it. I expected to see a post like this after receiving a reply to my email to WDW. I emailed them when I first saw this post and did not get a response until today. They want my phone number, and I suspected it was to tell me she has been reinstated.

Looking forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks!

 

[MA pigletfan]

thats great news,ive been following this thread and im glad to see common sense prevailed

ditto to that!

 

[susieq76]

Oh good! I hope shes back before our trip on 1/20!

 

[alohaguy]

Glad to hear it. I expected to see a post like this after receiving a reply to my email to WDW. I emailed them when I first saw this post and did not get a response until today. They want my phone number, and I suspected it was to tell me she has been reinstated.

Looking forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks!

Lesley - I wonder if they are getting around to contacting those that e-mailed or sent letters. I sent both, with my phone number, and noticed a call from WDW on my caller idea two days ago, but no message. Anyone else received any response? Just curious - I would be extremely, extremely surprised if WDW was giving any response to this matter. Though I'm sure someone noticed the tens, if not hundreds, of e-mails that came in on the subject.

In any case - she's back!

 

[jodifla]

This is great! And it also proves the power of protest. People shouldn't lie down when they'be been wronged.

 

[WDWBetsy]

That is wonderful news! I hope she'll be back when we check-in on 1/31!

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well what wonderful news. This just makes my day. Just wanted to say I still have not had a response as another poster has to my e mail yet from Disney. I am so happy for Lipoa.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Congratulations to her!!

It's just terrible that one person can put Disney in such a position that they felt obligated to fire a cast member that clearly (judging by response on this thread) was everything they expect from a cast member.

 

[kaysmommie]

Great news! Glad she will be there next trip when we eat at 'Ohana's and stay at Poly.

 

[alohaguy]

to add a little more to the story - we spoke with Lipoa again on the phone tonight and got a few more details. First of all, she is ecstatic, and so grateful to be back. It turns out that through her union rep, and attorneys, her situation was slated to be in arbitration with Disney. She was told that this process would take up to three months or longer. However, apparently due to a large volume of e-mails (which she was told was in the thousands) coming through the Polynesian and on to California, her case was expedited.

Disney acknowledged that the incident was not her fault, but that because it involved something that could be construed as 'sexual' in nature, she had to be terminated for them to protect themselves legaly. It was, however, up to their discretion whether or not to hire her back. I find a company like that hiring someone back after terminating them three weeks earlier to be rare, yet, that's exactly what they did. They acknowledged her large fan base, and told her that she was again wanted at the Polynesian and offered her job back.

They sited several reasons: her eleven years of experience at WDW, her three-time award as 'entertainer of the year' - given to only one person in all of WDW, her strong character references from fellow CM's, and her obviously huge following of supporters who expressed themeselves through e-mails, letters, and phone calls.

So, bottom line, she will be working again at Ohana's starting next Tuesday (9th of January).

She has read every post on these boards and expressed to me her extreme gratitude to all those that supported her. She was told that the e-mails made a huge difference in the speed with which her situation was handled, and for that, she is thankfull to everyone who wrote in on her behalf. (We can make a difference.) She also invites anyone who supported her to talk with her at Ohana's so she can personally say thank you.

It is a very unique situation, I think, and uncommon for a company to rehire someone once they've been terminated. And for those that will say there simply must be another side to this story, I think the proof lies in the fact that she will be at Ohana's on Tuesday.

Welcome back Lipoa ... and thanks to everyone who e-mailed for her.

 

[Twende]

That is excellent news! I am glad to see that Disney did the right thing and hired her back.

Welcome back Lipoa!!!

 

[TAKitty]

It is a very unique situation, I think, and extremely uncommon for a company to rehire someone once they've been terminated. QUOTE]

Actually, Disney frequently hires people back once they terminate them. I personally know two people working at Disney who were fired. I believe there is a "waiting" period..I forgot how long, but it happens.

 

[Sammie]

Sammie,
I appreciate you calling me out on the Venerables thing. In the future I will make a better attempt to dot my I's and cross my T's. I did, however, get that spelling from an earlier post. I said in an earlier post that I was just looking for a name. I never know who the manager of the poly was until now.

Now back to topic... I think it is great that so many "friends" on the DIS has Lipoa' back. I hope we have some success, though I doubt it. I realize that Dave Whatshisname will not respond to me or anyone else - I'm just trying to back up someone that I think a lot of. Our hearts are in the right place and I hope Lipoa knows this. The Poly will not be the same... P.S - Thanks alohaguy!.

You were just trying to back someone up that you think a lot of, I was doing the same. Your comments to Mr. Venables seemed rather harsh to me. As Alohaguy posted:

And Sammie, Dave Venables was the one that ultimately told Lipoa of her termination, although it was not his decision. His hands were tied by California, where the final decision was made.

In this case he was simply the messenger. I am sure he is as glad as anyone to have this resolved with a happy ending. Just as you and Alohaguy know Lipoa to be a kind and caring person, I know the same of Mr. Venables. Which was my point.

Good luck to Lipoa.

 

[rie'smom]

I'm very happy for Lipoa and look forward to seeing her again!

 

[Juliet25]

Great news!!!

Less than half-an-hour ago I heard from Lipoa, and she told me that she has been reinstated at Disney. She told me that after lengthy meetings with lawyers and the musician's union, Disney offered her position back. Also, despite all of the embarassment and downright confusion, she is glad to be back.

So, bottom line, Lipoa will be back at the Polynesian!! I don't know the exact date that she will start again, but will post when I find out.

This is a small portion of an e-mail she just sent me:


"Guess what? I've been reinstated!!!!!!!!!! Disney asked me to come back!!!!!!!!! There was a meeting with all the lawyers and everyone and they said they came to a settlement and had an offer for me and I accepted it with Graciousness. I am very very thankful and happy.

I feel that more than anything else, my good name has been restored. And that name is my dad's name and that means the most to me. I am grateful that people will see that righteousness has prevailed and all those ugly rumors they said about me weren't true!!! That was the worst thing for me about this whole fiasco was the rumors I heard about."


So thank you to everyone that showed support - whether any of it was seen by anyone at Disney or not, it doesn't matter, because Lipoa knew of everyone wishing her well and it made it easier for her to get through a difficult time.

So from everyone who wished her well and were stunned to hear of her situation: WELCOME BACK LIPOA!!!

I will post again with more details about how/why she was reinstated, when I get them - I suspect this will include some clear-cut admission of error on Disney's part, how else would they explain reinstating someone that had been terminated less than one month earlier? In the end, it was worth every bit of effort she put forth to fight - sometimes the little guy wins!

ALOHA

This is really great news! I'm so impressed how people here rallied to her defense. She sounds like an awesome person. I haven't dined at 'Ohana's, but I have ADR's for the character breakfast there in May.

WTG, DIS'ers! I'm sure those letters and phone calls helped.