*The Oprah Winfrey Network hasn’t even launched yet and already a lawsuit has been filed against the cable upstart by a former employee – who, by the way, says her legal action was a long time coming.
On Friday, Catherine Dunn sued for wrongful termination and discrimination claiming she was fired because of her Multiple Sclerosis.
According to E! Online, Dunn began her employment as an executive assistant at OWN in August 2008. As a result of a reportedly “hostile work environment” due to her disability, Dunn claims she was forced to take stress leave, as well as a leave of absence when her MS “symptoms were exacerbated because of the workplace stress.”
Additionally, Dunn’s lawsuit states that while she was on leave, her position was filled by a “non-disabled and younger employee.”
Dunn is seeking unspecified damages from the Oprah-owned network.
When asked to comment on the already-filed charges, an OWN spokesperson told E! News: “We have not seen the lawsuit. We are unaware of the claims. When and if we see something we will review appropriately.”
She went on a leave of absence. All companies that grant leaves of absence specifically state that there are no guarantees that you will get your old position back when you return to work. They guarantee you a job with a similar title/job description/pay grade and that’s it.
The entertainment busines is rough. I am sure she knew this or figured it out very quickly. It’s no ones fault that she couldn’t hack it. It is was it. No business owner is going to slow down for you; you have to keep up with them. Her co-workers probably resented her inability to keep up and she most likely resented them for not waiting on her. Thus, the hostile environment.
You gave it a shot and you just weren’t cut out for it. Now just go find a nice quiet, less stressful industry to work in and stop all of this foolishness!
By the grace of God I don’t have a physical disability, so I have no idea what she may have gone through. I will not discount her claims of disrimination, and if it is proven that she was targeted because of her MS then she needs to be appropriately compensated under the law.