Terminated during treatment

PinkSurvivor

I was just terminated this past Friday, I have worked for the same group of dr's for over 31/2 years and they treat patients with cancer on a daily basis.  I have never been written up or had any warning or anything.  I was in total and complete shock, I am in the middle of doing chemotherapy and my first thought was what am I going to do regarding my insurance.  Needless to say I am devestated, I really trusted these people and they have been very supportive since my diagnoses last July.  I believe it is do to the rising cost of insurance premiums.  I did file a complaint with the EEOC and have also thought about going to the newspaper and local news over this story.

Wondering if this has happened to anyone else?

DiDel

Omg that is absolutely terrible!!! I would sue their a$$! What a horrible thing you have to deal with on top of everything else. I hope they pay for your insurance at least. So sorry this happened to you.

I know it's stressful, I am self employed and thankfully had money saved when I went through treatment. The plus of it is that you can focus 100% on getting through treatment and recovering.

Hugs to you!! Hang in there!

Diane

kathleen1966

This is morally wrong....I hope that you can prove that it is legally wrong as well and sue!  Or take it to the media, let all of their patients know that this is how they treat a person who works for them who is being treated for cancer!  I am sooo very, very, very sorry.  This is not right.  Yes, you have options for insurance with Cobra (if you are in the US) but it is expensive, it is not really a real option that makes sense. You don't need this stress.  And you seem very young, not that it would be better if you were old but you have a whole life ahead of you.  This is heartbreaking, I am soo sorry to hear this and hope you can come up with a solution soon....I was also diagnosed in July of last year.  Are you almost done with treatment?  You're still getting chemo almost a year later?  I wish you well and hope that you can find a new job soon..

Fearless_One

It happens every day, especially in companies with less than 50 employees (this is legally a "small business" by definition).   But sometimes in larger companies, but not as often.   I would sue them if it were me.  

cycle-path

Fearless One: actually, for the purposes of the law protecting cancer patients, a company only has to have 15 employees for the law to be applicable. 

http://cancer.about.com/od/newlydiagnosed/f/discrimination.htm 

I posted (a little) more about job loss here: http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/113/topic/771363?page=1#idx_9 

Letlet

Tina, how terrible!!!!! I am so sorry that you have to go thru this on top of everything! Shame on them and to think they treat cancer patients on a regular basis

sanbar8771

Girl friend...I am not sure about the law but from what I know in Cali, you can't get fired for this. You can have a major lawsuit. I'm so sorry. Take Care.

Maybe484

This is outrageous.  Medical doctors who treat cancer patients firing an employee in the midst of cancer treatment.   I'm sure employment discrimination lawyers would line up to take your case.  Good luck with fighting this.

Chickadee

It's sickening on its face.  Try to find a lawyer familiar with labor law and definitely consider media attention, although I'd want legal counsel on how that might affect your goal.   Sometimes a well written letter from an attorney's office is all it takes to smack them in the face with their stupidity.

edwards750

Pinksurvivor...so sorry; more stress you dont need. Okay what reason did they give for terminating you? We can all assume it has something to do with your illness but that is going t be hard to prove. In Tennessee we have the right to work law which means an employer can fire you if he doesnt like the color of your hair. Fair? Of course not but the pendulum has swung the other way these days. Workers dont have the same protection or rights they used to. I worked for Federal Express. Their policy always was if you got 3 warnings you were toast. The first one was verbal and the the two written. A lady I met who had 30 years with the company didnt have a single letter in her file but she slipped up(minor slipup) and was immediately fired. She was stunned and devastated. Anxious to see if she wins her appeal. Thing is if you can find some evidence that will back your claim as to why they let you go you definitely have a case. I would talk to EEOC too and even someone in the medical field who is coordinating your treatment. My company would not consider terminating me because of my breast cancer; they are all about image and perception. Also when an employer fires you they can always invent an excuse. Whether they make it stick remains to be seen. Given who you worked for has so much to do with your situation I am surprised they want the backlash that will surely come from firing someone who has cancer. Keep us posted. Diane

Fearless_One

Yes, I would think any lawyer would be ready to take this on contingency, no money up front.   The problem lies, in that no employer in their right mind, would fire someone and give their cancer treatment as the reason.   That is where it can get tricky.

Fearless_One

Cycle-path, I was not aware of the 15-employee law regarding ADA.   Thanks for posting that! 

pip57

Just heartless!  Hope you get a big settlement from them!

1Athena1

P. S.: 

I would definitely go to the media. They deserve to have their reputation tarnished. If I knew that a practice I was about to patronize had fired one of its employees who had cancer, I would tell everyone to avoid them.

Also, blog/post about it in local sites. Get the word out. Cancer happenms to one in three people. It could happen to anyone.

Let's see how much their insurance premiums cost them then!

Anyway, we are all with you. Good luck and what a nightmare that you should have to deal with this during tratment.  

Fearless_One

What was the reason they gave you for termination (even though we know they are snakes)?