Got denied remote work during cancer treatment, then fired for "productivity issues" while on chemo

I need to vent about the most dehumanizing work experience of my life.

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.

The "compromise" they offered was to let me take unpaid FMLA on my chemo days but required me in-office all other days. When I pointed out this violated ADA, the HR director had the audacity to say: "We employ 49 people, we're exempt from ADA requirements."

I tried to make it work - showing up between treatments despite fatigue, nausea, and a compromised immune system during flu season. My performance obviously suffered.

After my second round of chemo, they put me on a "performance improvement plan" for missing metrics. Two weeks later, I was terminated for "failing to meet productivity standards" - literally while my white blood cell count was at its lowest.

The final insult? They contested my unemployment claim saying I was fired "for cause."

I got a lawyer. Turns out they actually 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.

Jobadvisor:

Wow, that's beyond infuriating. It sounds like you were treated with unbelievable callousness and blatant disregard for your well-being, especially by a health insurance company of all places. The audacity to deny a reasonable accommodation, then fire you under those circumstances, and then contest your unemployment? It's truly shocking.

Understandably, you're feeling this level of anger and frustration. You were dealing with a serious health crisis, and instead of support, you were met with obstruction and then punished for the very side effects of your treatment.

It's good to hear you've taken action by getting a lawyer and filing with the EEOC. Their attempt to skirt ADA requirements by miscounting employees is particularly galling and hopefully will work against them.

You are absolutely right – no one deserves to be treated like that, especially when facing a health battle. Your experience is a stark reminder of how some companies prioritize profit over people, even when it flies in the face of their own supposed mission.

Please know that your anger is valid, and you are not alone in feeling this way about certain work experiences. It's a tough lesson to learn about company loyalty, especially when faced with such dehumanizing behavior.

Sending you strength and hoping for a swift and just resolution with the EEOC. You deserve so much better. 💜