(Pocono Record) If you walked into the East Stroudsburg Wal-Mart, you were likely to see Danny Ockenhouse smiling as he welcomed you to the store. Confined to a motorized wheelchair, it didn’t stop him from directing shoppers to product areas or checking receipts of those leaving.
But not anymore. After almost 21 years of employment, Ockenhouse is gone.
The store eliminated his job in what appears to be a chainwide mandate that replaces greeters with hosts who have different responsibilities where the risks for theft, safety and security are higher. Because of Ockenhouse’s limitations, his job opportunities are slimmer than most.
“I just want my job back, and I want to be appreciated,” Ockenhouse, 41, said, with tears in his eyes. “The customers appreciate me.”
