AFGE Local 2014 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prevailed in an arbitration hearing involving a disabled Social Security teleservice employee, who was unjustly suspended.  He was suspended for two days for “discourteous telephone conduct.”  The employee had a debilitating medical condition which is relieved by medicine.  Management was aware of the employee’s condition. During a service call, he suffered an episode of acid reflux and put a caller on hold while he took his medication.  A supervisor put the employee on suspension for keeping the caller on hold too long. The supervisor did not adequately investigate the matter prior to taking this action.  There was not just cause to discipline the employee. The arbitrator noted, “Supervisors are not qualified to nor expected to make a medical determination of whether an individual is ill or not, however any reasonable person can make a lay person’s observation that the individual appears to be ill or in distress.”

“This is only one of the many techniques that management is using to harass the disabled employees,” said Local President, Janet Winghart.  An arbitrator agreed and restored the employee’s pay and ordered the employee record expunged.  Local President Winghart strongly advises advocates to hold agencies responsible when they are not human to their own employees, but yet profess to be compassionate to the public they serve.   Great Job Local # 2014!