“Drinking is a ‘handicap,’ fired former Florida State administrator says”

Fired after allegations of being abusive toward staff, Frank “Stephenson said the university should have provided ‘reasonable accommodations’ for his handicap of alcoholism, which the suit says his supervisors were aware of. State law prohibits discriminating against a person with a handicap.” [Orlando Sentinel; background; & welcome Above the Law readers]

7 Comments

  • In an unusual claim, Stephenson said the university should have provided “reasonable accommodations” for his handicap of alcoholism, which the suit says his supervisors were aware of.

    What were they supposed to, bring him a case of Bud every day?

    Stephenson was fired in September 2010 after an employee he supervised filed a complaint against him alleging he was abusive towards employees.

    Of course if they didn’t fire him then would be sued by the other employee for harassment.

  • up to now the law has been pretty clear that you don’t have to accommodate active alcoholism. Who knows with the way the EEOC works these days.

  • My inherent laziness is a handicap! My employer cannot legally fire me for reasons related to it! By law, they must accomodate this handicap. Preferably with plenty of nap/Failblog breaks.

    (this post intended entirely as satire, just for the record <–Just in case my actual employer is reading)

  • Is “stupid” considered a handicap now?

  • If active alcoholism isn’t protected, then active fat shouldn’t be either.

  • Here in Canada, addiction is considered a disability. Now, it is nearly impossible to fire someone who has an addiction.

  • […] day, for example, a Florida State University administrator dismissed after frictions with staff sued the university for not accommodating his alcohol abuse. But that’s just the academic setting, where many […]