A former senior vice president for E! Entertainment is suing NBC Universal and Comcast. According to the executive, she received bad performance reviews and unwelcome comments because of her appearance while fighting cancer. During her time at E!, she had allegedly received nothing except good performance reviews and salary increases. Once she developed breast cancer, everything changed. Several bad performance reviews later, she was fired and allegedly replaced this executive with a younger, attractive and cancer-free woman.
While battling cancer, the executive received chemotherapy, surgery and radiation treatments. These treatments caused other more visible health conditions to form. At one point, her arm became swollen after developing lymphedema. A company vice president allegedly approached her and asked her to cover her swollen arm with a poncho. Despite the comments and treatments, she continued carrying out the duties of her job.
How Can Workers Fight Back Against Disability Discrimination?
Workers may have protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act. For some, protections may also exist under the Family Medical Leave Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. There are several other laws that protect workers in situations like the one described above.
Eligible employees in California may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid medical leave within a 12-month period to recuperate from a major illness. Typically, employers cannot make employment decisions based on health conditions. There might be many ways that a worker facing disability discrimination can hold their employer accountable. Workers should consult with an attorney to discover which option best suits their needs.
If you have been fired from your job or harassed due to a medical condition, an employment law attorney can help you discover available legal options. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys at Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob & Morrison, P.C. can help workers who have faced wrongful termination or age discrimination.