According to the New York Post, the City of New York fired an employee for missing too much work. Turns out that he had a very good reason for his no-call/no-show: he was dead.
Geoffrey Tolliver, a Medicaid eligibility specialist for the City, went out on a medical leave of absence for cancer in November 2013, and he passed away in December 2014. The City recently moved to terminate his employment because he hadn't been to work in 18 months. Mr. Tolliver (understandably) did not show up for the hearing, so an administrative law judge approved the termination.
The City says it had been trying to contact Mr. Tolliver for more than a year with no response. Now that it is aware of his death, the City says it will not take any further action.
A friend of Mr. Tolliver was quoted as saying, "He deserves better. The agency itself should have known."
Indeed. RIP, Mr. Tolliver.
Of Counsel & Chief Legal EditorRobin also conducts internal investigations and delivers training for HR professionals, managers, and employees on topics such as harassment prevention, disability accommodation, and leave management.
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This is Constangy’s flagship law blog, founded in 2010 by Robin Shea, who is chief legal editor and a regular contributor. This nationally recognized blog also features posts from other Constangy attorneys in the areas of immigration, labor relations, and sports law, keeping HR professionals and employers informed about the latest legal trends.
