Texas Assisted Living Facility Sued for Firing Worker With Sleep Disorder

VibraLife of Katy, LLC, a rehabilitation and assisted living facility in Katy, Texas, violated federal law when it denied an employee an accommodation for her sleep disorder and then fired her, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, VibraLife hired an employee with a sleep disorder for a night-shift position. The job posting required the selected candidate to work 36 hours per week via three 12-hour shifts. Upon beginning her employment, the employee was notified that she would be required to work a fourth 12-hour shift every other week. The employee promptly requested an accommodation that her schedule be limited to the express terms of the job posting. Shortly after receiving the employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation, the employee was demoted and subsequently terminated.

Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination and retaliation against an employee with a disability. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. VibraLife of Katy, LLC, Civil Action No. 4:24-CV-02861) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement via its conciliation process. The EEOC is seeking back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages for the employee, as well as injunctive relief to prevent future discrimination.

Source: EEOC

Topics Lawsuits Texas