A grieving mom claimed she was fired from the Detroit financial institution she labored at for 30 years whereas on Household Medical Depart to handle her dying daughter who was battling breast most cancers.
Terri Estepp, a former longtime worker of Huntington Financial institution, used up nearly all of her trip days and paid day off to are likely to her daughter Samantha who was recognized with triple-negative breast most cancers whereas residing in California in April 2023, in line with WZZM 13.
Her daughter’s situation worsened a 12 months later.
Estepp — with no days left from her job to take off — mentioned she used 4 of her 12 weeks of the Household Medical Depart Act (FMLA) — a federal legislation that requires employers to offer job-protected, unpaid depart for medical and household causes — to be together with her daughter whereas she underwent remedy.
When she returned to work, she informed the financial institution’s administration she wanted extra day off to be with Samantha.
That very same day, Estepp mentioned she was fired following years of devoted service to the financial institution.
“I was in complete shock. I was not ready for anything like this,” Estepp revealed.
“I requested medical leave or Family Medical Leave Act. My previous boss had recommended that I do that, just in case I needed to take any spur-the-moment time off to care for my daughter.”
The blow stung much more when Samantha blamed herself for her mother shedding her job.
“It really hurt her. She started to cry on the phone. She said, ‘Mom, you lost your job because of me,’” the heartbroken mom informed the outlet whereas combating again tears.
Samantha died of breast most cancers in 2024. She was 31 years outdated.
“Within ten days of them letting me go, my daughter passed away,” she informed the outlet.
Estepp claims she was by no means given a motive for her firing.
Her lawyer, Sarah Prescott, filed a lawsuit in opposition to Huntington Financial institution on Monday, alleging that the grieving mom — who was making an attempt to be there for her dying daughter — was fired for utilizing the FMLA.
“She represented through her bank, 6,000 plus different businesses, families at any given time,” Prescott mentioned of her consumer.
“I want people to know that what they did was wrong, so they don’t do this to someone else,” Estepp informed Click on on Detroit.
A Huntington Financial institution spokesperson informed Click on on Detroit that they “were saddened to learn of her daughter’s passing and extend our condolences to Ms. Estepp and her family.”
“While Huntington Bank does not comment on active litigation, we are committed to compliance with all employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, and we acted appropriately in this matter,” the financial institution mentioned.
“Ms. Estepp’s departure from Huntington Bank was unrelated to an FMLA leave of absence.”
The Publish has reached out to Huntington Financial institution for remark.
