A black female former Metra employee has sued the commuter rail agency, accusing it of violating her rights when she was fired for allegedly violating the agency's Covid vaccine mandate.
Hodge alleges that her rights were violated when she was fired for supposedly violating the agency's Covid-19 vaccine mandate. The plaintiff, represented by attorney Kendra Spearman, of Spearman Law LLC, claims damages related to her employment and violations of her rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She also alleges discrimination based on race and religion, harassment, and retaliation.
According to the complaint, Hodge had been employed with Metra for about eight years before her termination and was one of the few black female engineers in the company. According to the complaint, Metra issued a Covid-19 vaccination mandate in 2021 but allowed employees to submit religious exemptions. Hodge allegedly applied for such an exemption but was placed on leave while additional information was requested.
The complaint alleges that despite providing further information supporting her religious exemption request, Metra denied it. A pre-termination hearing was scheduled and then rescheduled due to Hodge's medical issues. However, even after submitting necessary documentation from her physician recommending extended medical leave, Hodge alleges that she was unfairly treated and eventually terminated.
Hodge is asking the court to order Metra to pay unspecified compensatory damages and lost wages, plus attorney fees.