Question on possible job discrimination.... others experiences?

[Guest guest]

Greetings everyone,

My name is le (Gabby to most) and I'm a 33yr old, 3ft 2' Diastrophic

dwarf lady in Eastern PA, sorta near Philadelphia.

I am normally a lurker / reader / admirer of folks here, but today I find

reason to reach out and seek a bit of wisdom / info etc. Up until today, I

d worked for a large nationally known health services related company in my

area, in the department of claims resolution and front-line phone customer

service. Today however, I went in to find myself sent home an hour or 2

after my arrival, fired after nearly 5 yrs of exemplary performance at my

job. 6 months prior to today, and in that same period, I had major car

issues relating to an accident 3yrs ago (caused by a failure of my adaptive

driving controls) that resulted in 13k worth of repairs etc, and lots of

back and forth between the van modifiers, my regular van mechanics (the car

dealership where I got it). Ever since, I've had issues with timely

attendance to my job, all explained to my supervisors / Human resource

person etc. Also, in 4.5 yrs of employment there, despite numerous requests

for improvements, they never made ANY of the adaptations to the doors /

parking lot space, inner office doors that I needed to function for them

with full efficiency. They bemoaned problems with our office landlord etc,

and his feet-dragging but all in all, it was an overall lack of willingness

to assist at all or basic comprehension of my needs that was at the root of

it. My sister who is also Diastrophic worked for the same company and

because she is more mobile; never pushed the accessibility issue with them;

she never really saw a true need as her ability to access the building on

time etc was never unduly affected.

The times that the car broke down / was in the shop of one type or the other

were things I couldn't control and the company was well aware of them.

However, having to wait 5 to 10 mins at 1 or both of 2 sets of card-swipe

security doors exterior and interior to the office on a daily basis, is not

my fault, because reasonable modifications were never attempted, altho

promised.

Legally, am not sure what recourse, if any, I have to get either my job back

or some sort of compensation for my trials and tribulations and wrongfully

being let-go from a steady job of 4.5yrs. The quality of my work was never

an issue; had plenty of praise letters and acknowledgements of a job more

than well done, so I'm not worried about that end of things.

Sorry to ramble here, but anyone with ideas or advice or an opinion; please

feel free to reply.

Sincerely,

le B.

Homepage: www.sylvanhawke.com

[Guest guest]

Sorry Gabby....

Attendance is tough...but you signed a document that mentions the companys

attendance requirements and the steps that precede termination.

It sucks,,,but it happens all the time...dwarf or not.

J

[Guest guest]

Gabby,

If I were you I would seek an attorney. It sounds like you did not get your

needs met nt the company you worked for. Also, by federal law they are

responsible to make reasonable accommodations for you. You should see if

you can get a hold of the ADA (American with Disabilities Act). Good luck

Jill

Chapter 48, VP

District 3

Question on possible job discrimination.... others

experiences?

> Greetings everyone,

>

> My name is le (Gabby to most) and I'm a 33yr old, 3ft 2'

Diastrophic

> dwarf lady in Eastern PA, sorta near Philadelphia.

>

> I am normally a lurker / reader / admirer of folks here, but today I find

> reason to reach out and seek a bit of wisdom / info etc. Up until today,

I

> d worked for a large nationally known health services related company in

my

> area, in the department of claims resolution and front-line phone customer

> service. Today however, I went in to find myself sent home an hour or 2

> after my arrival, fired after nearly 5 yrs of exemplary performance at my

> job. 6 months prior to today, and in that same period, I had major car

> issues relating to an accident 3yrs ago (caused by a failure of my

adaptive

> driving controls) that resulted in 13k worth of repairs etc, and lots of

> back and forth between the van modifiers, my regular van mechanics (the

car

> dealership where I got it). Ever since, I've had issues with timely

> attendance to my job, all explained to my supervisors / Human resource

> person etc. Also, in 4.5 yrs of employment there, despite numerous

requests

> for improvements, they never made ANY of the adaptations to the doors /

> parking lot space, inner office doors that I needed to function for them

> with full efficiency. They bemoaned problems with our office landlord

etc,

> and his feet-dragging but all in all, it was an overall lack of

willingness

> to assist at all or basic comprehension of my needs that was at the root

of

> it. My sister who is also Diastrophic worked for the same company and

> because she is more mobile; never pushed the accessibility issue with

them;

> she never really saw a true need as her ability to access the building on

> time etc was never unduly affected.

>

> The times that the car broke down / was in the shop of one type or the

other

> were things I couldn't control and the company was well aware of them.

> However, having to wait 5 to 10 mins at 1 or both of 2 sets of card-swipe

> security doors exterior and interior to the office on a daily basis, is

not

> my fault, because reasonable modifications were never attempted, altho

> promised.

>

> Legally, am not sure what recourse, if any, I have to get either my job

back

> or some sort of compensation for my trials and tribulations and wrongfully

> being let-go from a steady job of 4.5yrs. The quality of my work was

never

> an issue; had plenty of praise letters and acknowledgements of a job more

> than well done, so I'm not worried about that end of things.

>

> Sorry to ramble here, but anyone with ideas or advice or an opinion;

please

> feel free to reply.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> le B.

> Homepage: www.sylvanhawke.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gabby,

I'm a VP in Human Resources and I'd think long and hard before you decide to

sue. I've dealt with a lot of cases, including ADA. Suing is a long and

arduous task and you have to ask yourself want you want to get out of it.

You'll need to find an attorney who thinks your case is strong enough to

take on contingency. You'll probably not get your job back and most

employees probably don't want a job back once they've been fired. A lawsuit

can backfire on you when you go to find another job. However, if you are

determined to sue and think you want a cash settlement, then I'd advise you

to concentrate on the lack of accommodations regarding parking and doors.

But I'd advise you not to do it on the basis on you car/van problems. You'll

never win an ADA case on that. Employers are not required to make

accommodations for car issues or for being late to work. Juries and judges

almost uphold the employer's right to expect their employees to be on time

except for medical appointments. And frankly, I would agree with that

position.

Question on possible job discrimination.... others

experiences?

> Greetings everyone,

>

> My name is le (Gabby to most) and I'm a 33yr old, 3ft 2'

Diastrophic

> dwarf lady in Eastern PA, sorta near Philadelphia.

>

> I am normally a lurker / reader / admirer of folks here, but today I find

> reason to reach out and seek a bit of wisdom / info etc. Up until today,

I

> d worked for a large nationally known health services related company in

my

> area, in the department of claims resolution and front-line phone customer

> service. Today however, I went in to find myself sent home an hour or 2

> after my arrival, fired after nearly 5 yrs of exemplary performance at my

> job. 6 months prior to today, and in that same period, I had major car

> issues relating to an accident 3yrs ago (caused by a failure of my

adaptive

> driving controls) that resulted in 13k worth of repairs etc, and lots of

> back and forth between the van modifiers, my regular van mechanics (the

car

> dealership where I got it). Ever since, I've had issues with timely

> attendance to my job, all explained to my supervisors / Human resource

> person etc. Also, in 4.5 yrs of employment there, despite numerous

requests

> for improvements, they never made ANY of the adaptations to the doors /

> parking lot space, inner office doors that I needed to function for them

> with full efficiency. They bemoaned problems with our office landlord

etc,

> and his feet-dragging but all in all, it was an overall lack of

willingness

> to assist at all or basic comprehension of my needs that was at the root

of

> it. My sister who is also Diastrophic worked for the same company and

> because she is more mobile; never pushed the accessibility issue with

them;

> she never really saw a true need as her ability to access the building on

> time etc was never unduly affected.

>

> The times that the car broke down / was in the shop of one type or the

other

> were things I couldn't control and the company was well aware of them.

> However, having to wait 5 to 10 mins at 1 or both of 2 sets of card-swipe

> security doors exterior and interior to the office on a daily basis, is

not

> my fault, because reasonable modifications were never attempted, altho

> promised.

>

> Legally, am not sure what recourse, if any, I have to get either my job

back

> or some sort of compensation for my trials and tribulations and wrongfully

> being let-go from a steady job of 4.5yrs. The quality of my work was

never

> an issue; had plenty of praise letters and acknowledgements of a job more

> than well done, so I'm not worried about that end of things.

>

> Sorry to ramble here, but anyone with ideas or advice or an opinion;

please

> feel free to reply.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> le B.

> Homepage: www.sylvanhawke.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

many human rights lawyers take cases on pro-bono especially when first

starting their careers. Unfortuneately non-unionised employees are easier to

fire without recourse. This really sucks and i know life must be difficult

right now but hold on to the possibility that this may be a spring board for

you to choose a different path. folow a childhood dream. Good luck

peace

carlos

>From: " Gabby B " <sunfyre@...>

><>

>Subject: Question on possible job discrimination.... others

>experiences?

>Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 14:31:42 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

>

>Greetings everyone,

>

>My name is le (Gabby to most) and I'm a 33yr old, 3ft 2'

>Diastrophic

>dwarf lady in Eastern PA, sorta near Philadelphia.

>

>I am normally a lurker / reader / admirer of folks here, but today I find

>reason to reach out and seek a bit of wisdom / info etc. Up until today, I

>d worked for a large nationally known health services related company in my

>area, in the department of claims resolution and front-line phone customer

>service. Today however, I went in to find myself sent home an hour or 2

>after my arrival, fired after nearly 5 yrs of exemplary performance at my

>job. 6 months prior to today, and in that same period, I had major car

>issues relating to an accident 3yrs ago (caused by a failure of my adaptive

>driving controls) that resulted in 13k worth of repairs etc, and lots of

>back and forth between the van modifiers, my regular van mechanics (the car

>dealership where I got it). Ever since, I've had issues with timely

>attendance to my job, all explained to my supervisors / Human resource

>person etc. Also, in 4.5 yrs of employment there, despite numerous

>requests

>for improvements, they never made ANY of the adaptations to the doors /

>parking lot space, inner office doors that I needed to function for them

>with full efficiency. They bemoaned problems with our office landlord etc,

>and his feet-dragging but all in all, it was an overall lack of willingness

>to assist at all or basic comprehension of my needs that was at the root of

>it. My sister who is also Diastrophic worked for the same company and

>because she is more mobile; never pushed the accessibility issue with them;

>she never really saw a true need as her ability to access the building on

>time etc was never unduly affected.

>

>The times that the car broke down / was in the shop of one type or the

>other

>were things I couldn't control and the company was well aware of them.

>However, having to wait 5 to 10 mins at 1 or both of 2 sets of card-swipe

>security doors exterior and interior to the office on a daily basis, is not

>my fault, because reasonable modifications were never attempted, altho

>promised.

>

>Legally, am not sure what recourse, if any, I have to get either my job

>back

>or some sort of compensation for my trials and tribulations and wrongfully

>being let-go from a steady job of 4.5yrs. The quality of my work was never

>an issue; had plenty of praise letters and acknowledgements of a job more

>than well done, so I'm not worried about that end of things.

>

>Sorry to ramble here, but anyone with ideas or advice or an opinion; please

>feel free to reply.

>

>Sincerely,

>

>le B.

>Homepage: www.sylvanhawke.com

>

>