Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. M.G.H. Family Health Center

Employment Discrimination Ruling: M.G.H. Family Health Center

What Happened

Avis Lane worked at M.G.H. Family Health Center for five weeks and performed her job successfully. However, the employer fired her based on the belief that she had disabilities (migraines and thoracic outlet syndrome), even though she was doing the work well. The employer did not fully investigate whether Lane could actually do her job or what help she might need.

What the Court Decided

The court ruled in favor of the EEOC (a government agency protecting workers' rights). The judge found that M.G.H. discriminated against Lane by firing her simply because they *thought* she was disabled—not because she actually couldn't perform the work.

Why This Matters for Workers

This ruling protects employees from being treated unfairly based on assumptions about health conditions. Employers cannot fire someone just because they perceive a disability. Instead, they must have a real conversation about whether the person can do the job and what support they might need. Workers cannot be penalized for how an employer *perceives* their health.