A former employee has filed a lawsuit against a prominent medical institution, alleging severe workplace discrimination and harassment. Michon Ryce, the plaintiff, submitted the complaint to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 11, 2024, accusing The University of Chicago Medical Center of violating several federal laws.
The complaint outlines that Ryce was employed by The University of Chicago Medical Center as an Anesthesia Tech since around 1996. She claims that her employment was marred by discrimination based on age and disability, as well as retaliation for exercising her rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). According to Ryce, these actions are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and FMLA provisions. The plaintiff asserts that she experienced a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices after developing significant vision issues due to glaucoma, which necessitated multiple surgeries in 2024.
Ryce's allegations include being reassigned from her original duties without formal accommodation requests being honored, and experiencing disparate treatment compared to younger colleagues. Notably, she recounts an incident where a manager allegedly made an age-related comment: "these young techs can run circles around you," which she perceived as derogatory. Furthermore, Ryce claims that after returning from FMLA leave for her surgeries, she faced unfair distribution of overtime opportunities favoring younger employees.
In August 2024, Ryce raised concerns about this treatment during a group meeting but received dismissive responses from management. Following this confrontation, Ryce was involved in meetings where allegations were made against her regarding unprofessional conduct—claims she disputes as biased and unfounded. These incidents culminated in her suspension and eventual termination on September 20, 2024.
The lawsuit seeks various forms of relief including back pay with interest, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages, loss of benefits compensation, attorneys' fees and costs, along with any other relief deemed appropriate by the court. Ryce is represented by attorney Chad W. Eisenback from Sulaiman Law Group Ltd. The case ID is: 124cv12707.