Latest news with #HealthPlusInsurance
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Cancer patient denied remote work, fired weeks later for 'productivity issues': Report
'Most dehumanizing work experience,' says a US employee who was allegedly fired while undergoing cancer treatment – all because he failed to 'meet productivity standards' in between his chemotherapy sessions. The employee has filed a complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claiming he was unfairly terminated while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Sharing his ordeal on Reddit, he said. '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.' According to the employee, he requested to work remotely during chemotherapy to reduce the risk of infection, following his doctor's advice while providing full medical documentation to support this request. His manager initially appeared supportive, but things changed when the company's Human Resource department got involved. The employee alleges that HR denied his request, stating, 'Remote work is a privilege, not an accommodation.' This decision came despite the fact that, according to the post, the 'entire department had worked remotely' during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of granting remote work, the company allegedly offered him unpaid leave on chemotherapy days but required him to be physically present in the office on all other days. When he raised concerns that this violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the HR director allegedly responded, 'We employ 49 people, we're exempt from ADA requirements.' The employee claims he tried to comply with these terms, showing up to work even when he was experiencing extreme fatigue, nausea, and a weakened immune system. However, his performance suffered. After the second round of chemotherapy, he was placed on a "performance improvement plan" and later fired for 'failing to meet productivity standards.' He said the company even contested his unemployment claim by stating he was fired 'for cause.' The employee has since hired a lawyer and filed a complaint with the EEOC. 'This company's entire business is HEALTH INSURANCE, but they couldn't show basic humanity to someone going through cancer treatment,' he wrote. The Reddit community reacted with anger and support. One user wrote, 'This company's entire business is HEALTH INSURANCE but they couldn't show basic humanity to someone going through cancer treatment.' Another commented, 'Absolutely disgusting behavior from a health insurance company of all places... denying you remote work when everyone else had it during COVID, then putting you on a PIP during chemo treatments is inhumane.' A third user stressed on the modern day work culture, saying, 'You are only as good as your last good day... When the nut cutting starts, none of that matters, you are expendable trash in their eyes.'
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
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."
