LW was fired. Why could an employer not simply allow LW to retire as a consequence for an "honest mistake" after that length of service?

Ah, but the “43 years” is another missing lead; LW would be nearing what used to be considered retirement age. Might the “honest mistake”, whatever that may have been, be a pretext for sacking LW (thus saving the business their pension if applicable) in favor of someone a lot younger, at a beginning wage?