HR manager sues ex-boss who fired her for taking too many sick days

A Hong Kong human resources manager has filed a lawsuit against her former employer for violating the disability discrimination ordinance, the RTHK reports.

The plaintiff, Sue Sau Kam, said she was fired from her job at food and beverage company Epicurean Group after she repeatedly left the office early to see a doctor to deal with pain in her knees.

According to the case, Sue started working for the group in 2004 and received high praise from her supervisors. But her health began to deteriorate in 2012, when she started feeling pain in her knees when walking.

Her condition got worse and in 2014 she had to regularly visit the doctor  for acupuncture. Sue informed her supervisor she needed to leave the office early one or twice each week to seek medical attention.

Records showed Sue took seven and a half days of sick leave in 2014.

She was officially diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2015 and had to continue to make weekly visits to the doctor.

Starting from January 2015, Sue's supervisor told her to record at what time she leaves the office every day. She believed this was an unfair arrangement, because no other employees were asked to keep such a record. She was then fired in March.

She is seeking more than HK$500,000 for emotional distress and compensation in wages. She also wants a written apology from her supervisor and to have her job back.

The hearing will begin on October 4 at the district court.

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