Legal Question in Disability Law in New York

getting fired due to becoming symptomatic on the job

I am a person who suffers from bipolar disorder. A coworker of mine was harrasing me and caused me enough stress to become symptomatic. My job performance started to suffer and my employer made note of my behavior. Previously I tried to resolve the problem that I was having with my coworker but found no relief. Then I filed a grievance with the president of the company which was my bosses father and got no response. Of course I was getting no where and I got so sick that I needed to be hospitalized. After I got out of the hospital a meeting was suppose to take place. It never did because when I called to find out about the status of my job and to appologize I was fired. Is this illegal?


Asked on 7/16/01, 11:58 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Harold M. Weiner Coles & Weiner, P.C.

Re: getting fired due to becoming symptomatic on the job

It is if they knew you had bipolar disorder and failed to " reasonably accomodate " you by stopping the harassment. But, did you tell the boss that you had this disorder and that the actions of her or his son exacerbating it? They have to know before you can invoke the disability discrimination laws on the Federal, State and New York City levels.

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Answered on 7/28/01, 5:43 am


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