Employee With Cancer Denied Remote Work, Fired Over 'Productivity Issues' While Undergoing Chemo
An employee working at an American health insurance company has sued the firm after he was allegedly fired for "productivity issues" while he was undergoing chemotherapy. The employee who was battling cancer was also denied remote work for his treatment. The former claims analyst, with three years at the company, described it as "the most dehumanising work experience" of his life on Reddit's Antiwork community.
The employee was allegedly told that working remotely was a privilege, not an accommodation, despite the department's previous remote work arrangement during COVID. As a compromise, he was offered unpaid medical leaves for chemo appointments, but was required to be in the office on other days. When he cited ADA violations, the HR director claimed the company was exempt due to its size, employing fewer than 50 people. As a result, the employee struggled to meet expectations while undergoing treatment, dealing with fatigue, nausea, and a compromised immune system.
"Last fall, I was diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. After the initial shock, I immediately sat down with my manager at HealthPlus Insurance (where I'd been a claims analyst for 3+ years) to discuss accommodations during my treatment. My oncologist recommended I work remotely during chemo to reduce infection risk. I had documentation, a doctor's note, everything. My direct manager seemed supportive until HR got involved. Their response? "Remote work is a privilege, not an accommodation." They claimed my role was "impossible to perform remotely" despite the ENTIRE DEPARTMENT working from home during COVID just months earlier," he wrote on Reddit.
by u/Kosherpotatoes in antiwork
After the second chemotherapy cycle, the employee was placed on a performance improvement plan and later fired for not meeting productivity goals, coinciding with his lowest white blood cell count. The company continued to challenge his unemployment claim, asserting the termination was "for cause."
Only after hiring a lawyer did an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case emerge, as the company, with 53 employees, was subject to the Act. Last week, the employee filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"I got a lawyer. Turns out they had 53 employees (they counted part-timers differently), making them subject to ADA. Yesterday, we filed with the EEOC. This company's entire business is HEALTH INSURANCE, but they couldn't show basic humanity to someone going through cancer treatment. Companies don't deserve loyalty. Ever," he added.
The story sparked outrage and sympathy on the internet, with many users expressing support for the employee and criticising the company's handling of the situation. One user wrote, "Hey, congrats on the lawsuit, likely to be a great payday in time, and it sounds like they've laid it all out for you. Very sorry to hear about the cancer, and very sorry you had to deal with this, especially during such a difficult time. I hope your health is better and hope you find better people in your future. What assholes. I'm not sure how people work in those HR departments, unless they are sociopaths."
Another commented, "It's not ironic, this is literally what I would expect of an insurance company. They don't give a f**k about your actual health, they just want to cut costs/risk no matter what."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
India well-equipped to swiftly detect, contain new COVID variants: Ex-ICMR DG Bhargava
New Delhi [India], June 10 (ANI): The emergence of the XFG variant is part of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's natural evolution, said Prof. (Dr) Balram Bhargava, former of Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and former Secretary of the Department of Health Research. He added that India is well-positioned to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly due to the widespread deployment of rapid molecular diagnostic platforms such as Truenat. As of Tuesday morning, India has reported 6,815 active COVID-19 cases. According to data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), 163 cases of the new COVID-19 variant XFG have recently been detected across the country. Dr Bhargava said that XFG variant carries mutations that may enhance its ability to bind to human cells and bypass immune defences. 'Early reports suggest that the variant has high immune escape potential, but there is no current evidence to indicate increased severity. However, as the virus adapts, India's diagnostic infrastructure has adapted since the very first wave. RT-PCR remains the cornerstone of COVID-19 diagnostics, and the widespread deployment of rapid molecular platforms like Truenat puts India in a strong position to detect and contain emerging variants swiftly--even in remote and resource-limited settings,' he said. Dr Bhargava, who played a key role in India's pandemic response, stressed the continued importance of point-of-care testing in identifying emerging variants such as XFG. 'Vigilance is critical now, and not panic. As we've done in the past, we should continue testing when symptomatic, masking in crowded spaces, and staying up to date with vaccinations,' he said. (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Surat reports 58 COVID-19 cases; no severe illness, authorities urge caution, not panic
Surat (Gujarat) [India], June 10 (ANI): COVID-19 cases are steadily rising in Gujarat, with Surat reporting 58 cases so far. However, officials have confirmed that all patients are stable, with no serious illness or deaths reported. According to health department officials, special training has been provided to doctors in government and municipal hospitals across Surat to prepare for any potential surge. Authorities have also reviewed medicine stocks in various hospitals, and supplies are reported to be sufficient. Dr Khushboo Patel, Deputy of the Vaccine Branch, said, '58 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Surat. There are currently 166 active cases in Surat. Only one patient is hospitalised in a private facility and is stable. Fifty-five patients are in home isolation and recovering well. No cases have shown links to international travel. Special training has been given to our medical teams, and medicine stocks have been thoroughly checked.' She emphasised that there is no cause for alarm. 'There is nothing to be afraid of right now. We've taken the necessary precautions, including training health staff and ensuring medicine availability. The situation is under close watch, and we're prepared to manage any spike in cases,' Dr Patel added. She also advised residents to avoid crowded places if experiencing symptoms like cold or cough and reiterated that the situation remains under control. 'The number of cases is not increasing rapidly, but we have systems in place to manage any escalation. This is not something to panic about,' she said. Preparations for beds and medical infrastructure have already been made at Surat's two major government hospitals -- Civil Hospital and SMIMER -- according to the Surat Municipal Corporation. Officials said that while a significant surge is unlikely, response teams are on standby. Earlier, in view of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in India, a series of technical review meetings were held on June 2 and 3 under the chairpersonship of Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), with various representatives. According to a release, the representatives include Disaster Management Cell, Emergency Management Response (EMR) Cell, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Central Government Hospitals in Delhi and with representatives from all States and UTs to evaluate the current COVID-19 situation and preparedness measures. As of June 4, 2025, India reported 4,302 active COVID-19 cases, an increase of 864 cases in the past 24 hours. Most cases are mild and managed under home care. Since January 1, 2025, 44 deaths have been reported, primarily among individuals with pre-existing illnesses. States have been instructed to ensure the availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators, and essential medicines. A mock drill assessing oxygen supply systems (PSA plants, LMO tanks, MGPS lines) was conducted on June 2, 2025. Facility-level preparedness mock drills are planned for June 4 and 5. State and District surveillance units under IDSP are closely monitoring Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). Testing is recommended for all admitted SARI cases and 5% of ILI cases, as per guidelines. Positive SARI samples are sent for Whole Genome Sequencing through the ICMR VRDL network. The public is advised to practice hand hygiene and cough etiquette, and avoid crowded places when unwell. Individuals with acute respiratory illness should self-monitor and seek medical care if symptoms worsen. Trusted sources like MoHFW's website and PIB releases should be followed to avoid misinformation and rumours. Union Health Ministry closely monitors the situation and remains committed to ensuring public health safety through timely interventions and effective communication. (ANI)
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
CM says previous AAP govt. could not manage COVID-19
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday heaped praises on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for extending support to Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic. She criticised the former Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging it had failed in managing the COVID-19 period and assured that the BJP government will not repeat the 'mistakes done by AAP government in the past'. Her comments came amid the re-emergence of COVID-19 cases in the country. COVID-19 cases in Delhi have been dropped by 37, bringing down the total active caseload to 691. 'The condition in which the people of Delhi spent their 11 years was quite distressing. During the COVID-19 period, the then Delhi government issued death certificates to only 97 people, whereas everyone saw the reality of overflowing crematoriums. Regrettably, those deaths were not even recorded,' said Ms. Gupta during a press conference, adding that the Centre extended a 'helping hand' during those dark days. Ms. Gupta said that the Centre provided free ration to nearly 80 lakh people at that time when the then Delhi government was 'hiding behind the closed doors'. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, who was also present at the press conference, took on the Arvind Kejriwal government. He stated that it was the Centre that took care of Delhi when the previous AAP government left Delhi helpless during the COVID-19 period. Pointing out the development in the healthcare infrastructure in the Capital, the CM said, 'Today, AIIMS alone conducts around five lakh outpatient department (OPD) visits annually linked to Delhi, which reduces the burden on hospitals here. Corruption in the health sector was rampant during the previous government, which has now been stopped. 1,500 nurses have been permanently appointed to fill the infrastructural gaps caused by staff shortages.' CM Gupta said that the government had begun a rollout of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, enabling Delhiites to benefit from a slew of Central government's welfare programmes. She said that her administration has initiated work on 1,100 new Arogya Kendras (health centres), with 34 centres nearing completion. Their inauguration is scheduled for June 14.
