Woman quit for cancer

Woman receives termination due to cancer

09/13/2014

In the US, a woman has apparently been denounced for her cancer. She had worked for her boss, an oral surgeon, for more than twelve years. The case is now causing a stir. In Europe, chronically ill patients may benefit from special protection against dismissal.

Handwritten termination after cancer
In a handwritten letter, the 51-year-old dentist assistant Carol Jumper from the USA received her notice. Like the news portal „Beaver Countian“ reported, the woman was apparently dismissed for her cancer. Her boss, a maxillofacial surgeon, happened to find out about the illness of his employees and told her in the letter: „They are in a fight against cancer that will put a lot of strain on them physically, mentally and emotionally.“ Either „the symptoms of the disease, the painkillers needed and the side effects of chemo“ will be significant. Therefore, according to the employer, she could no longer carry out her job.

Working for employers for over twelve years
The disease, which had already spread to the ovaries, liver and pancreas, was diagnosed only a few weeks ago. According to the information, it took only a few days after that until the 51-year-old, who had worked for her boss for over twelve years, holding the notice in the hands. After she had gone public with the letter, and the case had caused quite a stir, the doctor's attorney spoke to her „Times Online“ from a misunderstanding.

Friends of the patient collect money
Accordingly, Ms. Jumper could return to her profession when she was feeling better again. But now she has no time for it, as she fights for her life, as the wife had a friend tell. She no longer has any contact with her old boss. According to her fiancé, the long-time employer did not report to her after the cancer had become known. In order to help the patient financially and to raise money for her, friends have, among other things, a Facebook group with names „Bumper's buddies“ founded, which had hundreds of users after a short time.

Special dismissal protection of chronically ill persons
In Europe, the "dismissal protection of the chronically ill" is somewhat better off. For example, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled in Luxembourg last year in a judgment (Case C-335/11 and Case C-337/11) that "in the future, chronically ill people may have their suffering recognized as a disability ". The judges had then decided that a curable or incurable illness, involving physical, mental or psychological limitations, could be equated with disability. In this case, there is a special protection against dismissal because under EU law no employee may be disadvantaged because of a disability. (Ad)