Legal Question in Disability Law in Utah
I had just started a new job two months ago. My performance had been stellar. I called in sick once about a month ago. I have been having major medical issues and did have to take occassional long lunches off for doctors appointments but they were scheduled in advance and this is the norm in the office with every other person there doing the same thing. I have been on chronic pain medication. Last Monday it became clear it was time to drastically taper down on the narcotic pain meds. I had no idea how horrible it would be. For two days I hallucinated and went through pain I cannot describe. My fiance had to call in for me because I was so ill. On the second day he asked me what I wanted him to tell them and I said the truth. Went back and was immediately terminated. Was this absence in any way protected by ada? They didn't give me any reason for my termination but it is pretty obvious. I think they judged me thinking I was using drugs, which I was not. I was tapering off a legal prescription that a doctor had over prescribed.
1 Answer from Attorneys
If your employer has more than 15 employees you may have a cause of action for violation of the ADA. You may also entitled to unemployment compensation.
You should also contact your employer with a doctor's letter explaining what was going on.