2oceansvibe News | South African and international news

Sponsored by RSAWeb rss
2ov Radio
  • Home
  • About
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Seth Rotherham
  • du Cap Collection
  • Café du Cap
  • Cabine du Cap
  • Media Packs / Advertising
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Anonymous Tips
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
Seth Rotherham
  • Think Twice Before Planning Your Next Work Surprise Birthday Party

    19 Apr 2022 by Tayla in Business, Health, law, legal, Lifestyle
    Related Posts
    • Playboy Book Party Celebrating Free Speech Under Fire From Ex-Playmates
    • Meghan Markle's Half-Sister Is Stirring The Pot Again
    • Proof That Your Cat Actually Does Miss You
    • Now Brad Is Suing Angelina, Again
    • They Think They’ve Finally Tracked Down The Owners Of Poopsenders.com

    [imagesource:here]

    Not everybody wants to celebrate their birthday with a surprise party in the office.

    Besides being occasionally awkward (if you don’t particularly know or like your co-workers), they can also be anxiety-inducing.

    That’s why Kevin Berling asked his colleagues at Gravity Diagnostics (a Kentucky company that now conducts COVID-19 tests) not to throw him a surprise birthday party in 2019.

    He simply did not want the stress that comes with his colleagues lining up to shout celebrations as he struggles with severe anxiety and is prone to panic attacks that bring back difficult childhood memories.

    But the company decided to cross that boundary anyway, and now they’re forced to pay a hefty sum thanks to a lawsuit filed against them by Berling.

    The lawsuit alleges that the company discriminated against Berling because of his disability, reported BBC:

    The lawsuit notes that Mr Berling was “confronted and criticised” at a meeting the following day (after he had a panic attack and swiftly left the office party), where he was accused of “stealing his co-workers joy” and “being a little girl”. The tense meeting prompted a second panic attack, after which the company sent him home for the remainder of 8 August and 9 August.

    On 11 August, Gravity Diagnostics fired him, citing concerns about workplace safety. His lawsuit alleged that the company discriminated against him because of a disability and unfairly retaliated against him for asking that his request be accommodated.

    After all that, Berling has been granted $450 000 (around R6,6 million) in damages – $300 000 for emotional distress and $150 000 in lost wages.

    What a backwards birthday gift.

    Gravity Diagnostics believes that Berling violated a “workplace violence policy” and thus stands by the decision to fire him.

    Berling’s attorney argued that the office misunderstood Berling’s panicked response and assumed he was a threat, adding that “assuming that people with mental health issues are dangerous without any evidence of any violent behaviour is discriminatory”.

    There’s a lesson here: take your anxious co-worker seriously when they say they do not want an office party.

    [source:bbc]

    • ← How Much Netflix Loses To Password Sharing Each Year
    • Can Twitter Stop Elon Musk’s Hostile Takeover? →
    • Tweet
    • Tags:
    • anxiety
    • company culture
    • lawsuit
    • office
    • Office party
    • panic attack
    • party
    • surprise birthday party
    • surprise party

    Latest News

    • Private Plane Travel Is Going Through The Roof

      [imagesource: Aero] Flying commercial comes with many pitfalls. There's the airport ...

    • 2OV Throwback Thursday – The “George W. Bush Best Bushisms” Viral Video

      [imagesource: UPI / Ian Halperin] It once seemed impossible that America would ever be ...

    • Cape Smash-And-Grab Ends Very Badly For Crook [Video]

      [imagesource: Twitter / @masixole_l] As a South African, you have to be on the ball whe...

    • Ozzie PM Ploughs Into Kid During Football Match [Videos]

      [imagesource: Jason Edwards] The TMO has been consulted and Scott Morrison did wrap his...

    • Life Imitates Art For Author Of ‘How To Murder Your Husband’

      [imagesource: Pool / KPIU] A romance novelist fascinated with betrayal and spousal murd...


    • 2oceansvibe Partners

    • CONTACT US
    • GOT A HOT STORY?
    • 2oceansvibe Radio
    • 2oceansvibe Media
    • Media Pack
    • Seth Rotherham
    • Café du Cap
    • Cabine du Cap
    • Cape Town City Accommodation
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Business
    • Media
    • Entertainment
    • Tech/Sci
    • World
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Sport
    • Politics
  • Follow

    2oceansvibe.com is part of the 2oceansVibe Media Group

    DMMA Logo