[Another day, another lawsuit settled. In an unprecedented move Kaiser Permanente admitted no liability, even while handing over the check. Ha ha. That was supposed to be funny, but it's difficult to see the humor when you realize that there are real human lives that are being disrupted -- and in some cases ruined or ended -- because this organization has taken refusing to accept responsibility for its actions to the level of absurdity. It's this simple: you can't correct problems that you won't admit exist.]
From the Associated Press, via Forbes.com:
Kaiser to Pay to Settle Lawsuit
By JAYMES SONG 11.07.07, 9:48 AM ET
HONOLULU - Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. will pay $180,000 to a labor and delivery nurse to settle a lawsuit that claimed the woman’s promotion was rescinded after she disclosed her pregnancy, officials said Tuesday.
Margaret McIlroy was offered a promotional transfer in 2003 from Kaiser Permanente Southern California to a clinic on Maui. Two weeks before starting the job, she disclosed her pregnancy and in less than 24 hours, she was told the offer had been withdrawn, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said.
“Standing up for my civil and God-given rights has come at an incalculable and a never-ending cost to my family and myself, but I felt strongly that I had to speak out,” McIlroy said in a statement.
McIlroy, who was 44 at the time, eventually lost her job. She and Kaiser also entered into a separate confidential agreement to settle her non-civil rights claims.
“Pregnancy discrimination strikes its victims at a time when they are quite vulnerable,” said Joan Ehrlich, EEOC’s San Francisco district director.
In a statement, Kaiser said it has always been an advocate for fair hiring practices and respects and adheres to all equal opportunity requirements.
“From the outset of this case, we have maintained that we followed all state and federal hiring laws; however we agreed to resolve the matter in the interest of all parties concerned,” Kaiser said.
It added that the settlement was reached with no admission of liability on Kaiser Hawaii’s part.
Besides the monetary settlement, Kaiser agreed to revamp its pregnancy policies and training programs. The company must also provide annual reports to the EEOC detailing its investigation and resolution of any internal complaints of pregnancy discrimination in Hawaii.
Kaiser, based in Oakland, Calif., serves nine states and operates 16 clinics on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.
“We have an outstanding record of supporting and caring for staff and physicians throughout their pregnancies and as they transition back to work,” the company said. “We will augment our already extensive policies and training programs to better reflect what our actual practices have always been.”
A record 4,901 pregnancy discrimination complaints were filed with the EEOC last year.
Kaiser Thrive Exposed would like to personally thank Dr. Geoff Galbraith - Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute board member; and Vice President, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, Quality Improvement Management - for inspiring us to create this website. Did we make it into the top 5?
You know what, I am hispanic and live in Arleta, CA. I was born in the beautiful country of Panama. I go to the Kasier on Woodman Ave in Panorama City, California.
I was treated by a doctor there name Dr. Susan Mason. She is a racist. Before Dr. Susan Mason even spoke to me as my doctor, she said “It looks like you need an interpreter”
I said in very good English, but with an accent, for what? She said, “Because you are Mexican and may not understand me very well with your broken English”
I was so upset , my dark brown skin turned so Red!
First, Dr. Susan Mason assumed that I am Mexican because I have dark skin and I am Hispanic. Second ,Dr. Susan Mason, without asking me , she assumed based on her racism and stereotypes that I can’t speak English.
Keep in mind, I have been living here for 20 years and speak fluent English with an accent and have a College Degree from CSUN.
Then Dr. Susan Mason next comment was to my wife, because we had pictures of our kids and nephews and the whole family on the table of the hospital room. She said “Well you Catholics sure have a lot kids.” Well, I am not Catholic, I am Christian. And all those children were not even all mine, they are nephews, nieces, etc.
There, Dr. Susan Mason assumed that I was an illiterate Catholic, with a million kids and that all we do is have kids here.
And guess what, she was in fact pregnant herself.
She asked my wife some questions, and I answered some. Then she also told me that in my culture that I come from a culture where I am very protective like Macho and I should let my wife speak and not talk for her. Well, my wife ask me to speak for her. That was my wife’s wishes.
I tried to complain , but so far have not gotten a phone call back. If I can, I will litigate this in court. I will keep you updated.
I talked to several cleaning people there and some hispanic nurses, and 1 Philipina nurse, and they all , unequivocally said that Dr. Susan Mason is a known racist and doesn’t like hispanics. SO why is she still allowed to work there and make such racist comments?
Probably because many in fact don’t speak English and don’t know how to complain.
So, I give you an early warning if you go this is supposedly new state of the art hospital on Woodman ave in Panorama City, Ca be careful for Dr. Susan Mason and her racist comments.
GOD BLESS YOU
DIOS TE BENDIGA
As anyone heard about the settlement in the Kaiser kidney transplant cases?I have hearing rumors on the internet
hi, i kinda recently had filed a claim against kaiser as well for pregnancy discrimination. because i had found out about my pregnancy a month after becoming employed by kaiser, and was still within my probation period,they decided to let me go. i guess i wasnt supposed to be sick at all during probation! i went home sick twice and called in once…all of which i had dr’s notes for. turned out after they asked me to resign my position, i ended up having a high risk pregnancy due to stress, and ended up having a heart condition called SVT- which raised my heart beat up to 196 beats per minute, so not only was i stressed out about loosing my job and not being able to find one because “who wants to hire a pregnant girl”, i ended also having heart surgery during my 6th month of pregnancy and had to have a c-section. it just completely killed my excitement about having my first child and especially because i was so excited when i found i was pregnant!!! i filed a case with civil rights a year and a half ago, and im STILL waiting for a response from kaiser! any feedback and help on what i should do, and what i should be asking for in my case will help me very much!!!
mahalo,
crystal