A grieving mom claimed she was fired from the Detroit financial institution she labored at for 30 years whereas on Household Medical Depart to handle her dying daughter who was battling breast most cancers.
Terri Estepp, a former longtime worker of Huntington Financial institution, used up the vast majority of her trip days and paid break day to are inclined to her daughter Samantha who was recognized with triple-negative breast most cancers whereas dwelling in California in April 2023, based on WZZM 13.
Her daughter’s situation worsened a yr later.
Estepp — with no days left from her job to take off — mentioned she used 4 of her 12 weeks of the Household Medical Depart Act (FMLA) — a federal legislation that requires employers to supply job-protected, unpaid depart for medical and household causes — to be together with her daughter whereas she underwent therapy.
When she returned to work, she advised the financial institution’s administration she wanted extra break day to be with Samantha.
That very same day, Estepp mentioned she was fired following years of devoted service to the financial institution.
“I used to be in full shock. I used to be not prepared for something like this,” Estepp revealed.
“I requested medical depart or Household Medical Depart Act. My earlier boss had really useful that I do this, simply in case I wanted to take any spur-the-moment break day to take care of my daughter.”
The blow stung much more when Samantha blamed herself for her mother dropping her job.
“It actually harm her. She began to cry on the telephone. She mentioned, ‘Mother, you misplaced your job due to me,’” the heartbroken mom advised the outlet whereas combating again tears.
Samantha died of breast most cancers in 2024. She was 31 years outdated.
“Inside ten days of them letting me go, my daughter handed away,” she advised the outlet.
Estepp claims she was by no means given a motive for her firing.
Her legal professional, Sarah Prescott, filed a lawsuit towards Huntington Financial institution on Monday, alleging that the grieving mom — who was attempting to be there for her dying daughter — was fired for utilizing the FMLA.
“She represented via her financial institution, 6,000 plus totally different companies, households at any given time,” Prescott mentioned of her shopper.
“I need folks to know that what they did was incorrect, in order that they don’t do that to another person,” Estepp advised Click on on Detroit.
A Huntington Financial institution spokesperson advised Click on on Detroit that they “have been saddened to be taught of her daughter’s passing and prolong our condolences to Ms. Estepp and her household.”
“Whereas Huntington Financial institution doesn’t touch upon lively litigation, we’re dedicated to compliance with all employment legal guidelines, together with the Household and Medical Depart Act, and we acted appropriately on this matter,” the financial institution mentioned.
“Ms. Estepp’s departure from Huntington Financial institution was unrelated to an FMLA depart of absence.”
The Submit has reached out to Huntington Financial institution for remark.
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