Carl Sorabella, Massachusetts Man, Fired After Disclosing Wife's Cancer

Cancer is an awful thing for any family to deal with. It's even more of a problem when it gets you fired.

When Carl Sorabella, of Massachusetts, told his employer that he would need to take some medical leave in order to deal with his wife's cancer, he thought it was a reasonable request. But according to ABC News, when he walked into work on Monday, he found a note on his desk saying that he had been fired.

"When I told my boss, she said 'We were thinking about laying you off.' I thought, 'You can't do that,'" Sorabella told WCVB 5 in Boston.

Sorbella's wife of 23 years, Kathy, had learned she had stage 4 untreatable cancer in April. But according to the report, the request for a modified schedule in order to deal with the problem was too much for his employer, Haynes Management, a real estate company in Wellesley Hills, Mass.

According to ABC, Sorbella feels he was wrongfully terminated:

"Ultimately she said don't worry about it and come in on Monday, and when I came in on Monday I got a letter that I would be laid off," he said. Sorabella said the letter stated he was being laid off due to "workforce modifications." But one week after he was fired, he says he saw a listing for his job on the company website.

"She said, 'It's business. I'm running a company here, and I need to make sure the department runs.' And I argued that I would make sure the company runs," Sorabella said.

While there are laws in place to protect employees from this sort of thing, The Family and Medical Leave Act only applies to companies with 50 or more employees. As a result, many small business employees are left with few legal options.

For video, click here for more from ABC.

Comments

[mekeda]

06:01 PM on 07/14/2011

For every case like this that gets press attention,there are a hundred more that don't. Trust me,it ain't just THIS company,and THIS state!

[smoovejef]

09:58 AM on 07/04/2011

When people commented @ Yelp.com, the negative comments regarding the company in question were removed. Boycott them too.

My best to this couple as they face these awesome challenges.

[askandtell]

04:28 PM on 06/18/2011

Statement issued by Haynes Management:

(Wellesley, MA) As a family owned company of 21 employees, Haynes Management is deeply committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all of our colleagues. We recognize the important role each of our employees plays in our success and stability as a company.

We have a strong track record as an employer, with many employees who have worked with the company for more than 10 years. It is our practice to work collaboratively with employees during incidence of medical issues that impact the individual or members of our families.

The leadership of Haynes is confident that we followed appropriate practices in connection with recent events concerning a member of our staff. Media reports regarding the circumstances of this decision have been inaccurate; however, out of respect for the privacy of the individual involved, we will not comment on the specifics.

In recognition of their unique circumstances and level of hardship created by his wife’s illness, Haynes Management is reaching out to our former employee to determine if there is a way we can be supportive to his family during this time. This decision is consistent with our values as a family owned business and our commitment to being a responsible member of our community.

[madame fate]

09:47 PM on 06/18/2011

IMO, too little, too late.

Basically their letter says they stand by their actions but if enough people give them grief they will hold out an olive branch to the poor guy.

I wrote them a letter a few days ago telling them how disappointed I was in their lack of empathy for a man going through such a hard time in his life and how firing him was a very bad move. I doubt they care what I said but it made me feel better to tell them how I felt.

I think they need a wake up call in the empathy department. Hurting them in their wallets is usually the only thing some companies pay attention to. Boycott, anyone?

[comojeff]

04:17 PM on 06/19/2011

That may sound like a wonderful statement to some but it rings hollow to me. The most important thing off all are the actions of the company and it has been 3 days since the statement and they have done NOTHING to "... be supportive to his family during this time." I believe this inaction "... is consistent with our values as a family owned business and our commitment to being a responsible member of our community."

[pallasroma]

05:27 PM on 06/19/2011

Money talks and BS walks, this statement is to deflect some of the heat for their actions. Maybe some people need to protest at their office doors? Some people suffering from Cancer could be a start.

[thirtyish]

02:46 AM on 06/18/2011

In case you want to tell his boss what you think of her and her evil company: mbutler at haynesmanagement dot com

[madame fate]

09:48 PM on 06/18/2011

Happy to say I let them know how I felt about their actions. I hope more people will let them know, too. It only takes about 30 seconds of your time and it may well help this guy. I'd say that's worth the effort.

[Thomas St Louis]

07:02 AM on 06/20/2011

I sent an email expressing my disgust at their actions & encouraged others to do as well.

[CarlyQ]

10:30 PM on 06/17/2011

What a truly EVIL act.

Where are all the conservatives, though, defending this boss's actions? Come on - lay it on about how it's his wife's fault she got cancer, that he should have saved enough money for emergencies such as these, that it was wrong of him to expect flexibility in his work schedule to deal with this crisis and maybe even throw in a word or two about how profits for the company eventually trickle down to the workers.

Suddenly strangely silent, the bunch of them.

[madame fate]

09:49 PM on 06/18/2011

They are silent because they just don't care...

[willow reed]

08:24 PM on 06/19/2011

Because Caryly, you are obviously WRONG in your thought process! You think that all conservatives are evil? No, we aren't. My granma had cancer, it was horrible. You would wash us all with the same brush, which makes you as bad as the people you rail against. I suggest an attitude readjustment.

[CarlyQ]

08:51 PM on 06/19/2011

So, my thought processes are wrong because I'm asking where the conservatives are in this issue and why they're strangely silent?

Really?

[sue anne]

08:12 PM on 06/17/2011

Please sign the petition -
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/451/899/791/

[frank day]

08:31 PM on 06/17/2011

done

[Annette Pappas]

09:35 AM on 06/22/2011

Done!! In 2005 I received a diagnosis-cancer (was self employed uninsured medical billing agent). My largest client told me that I would be really sick and would need to get someone else to do the billing. Income from that practice (the largest practice) now gone. I believe in Karma, the practice closed a couple of years later due to the doctor having to leave the country to take care of ill relatives. I am still here.

[Lady Nature]

05:09 PM on 06/17/2011

It's really time for individuals to become responsible for their own healthcare, if in fact that's why this man was fired. The entire healthcare system needs to be revamped so that people can get the care they need without the fear of being fired. Ridiculous.

[Lady Nature]

05:03 PM on 06/17/2011

How long had he been working for the company? That could be a relevant piece of information.

[Alicia Knight]

08:06 PM on 06/17/2011

According to the ABC news report he has been working for this company for 14 years. His job performance was good enough to have been given a raise in November 2010.

[wloveland]

04:45 PM on 06/17/2011

Many are confusing Haynes with HAYES Management Consulting, which does healthcare IT consulting. Be careful with typos! It's not fair to bash a company that has nothing to do with it. Here's their press release:http://bit.ly/ihqztY

[jesl67]

04:32 PM on 06/17/2011

Come join us on facebook, we are extremelly active and trying to help this family out.

https://ww­w.facebook­.com/mobil­eprotectio­n#!/pages/I­-hate-Hayn­es-Managem­ent-Inc/11­1742002249­387

[Thomas St Louis]

07:06 AM on 06/20/2011

I typed in that web address and nothing was there

[frank day]

03:10 PM on 06/17/2011

Looks like HP pulled this article, even though it was getting a lot of hits.

[hdc77494]

02:45 PM on 06/17/2011

The most recent client mentioned on their web site is an OB/GYN practice called Bout Women By Women. Haynes owns the office building. Mary Butler's (old) email address is also listed. You can publicize this story everywhere, and they can't touch you. The facts are do bad it's worse than any lie they might accuse you of. Heck, Ms Butler screwed up s badly maybe Mr Haynes will fire her. I wonder where she lives.

[outtopastur]

02:27 PM on 06/17/2011

"Ultimately she said don't worry about it and come in on Monday, and when I came in on Monday I got a letter that I would be laid off".

Pure cowardice on the part of this employer--not to mention a few other choice words which are not printable here.

[Jeremy Karrie Baldenegro]

02:20 PM on 06/17/2011

Facebook Boycott time!!!

[amber15]

02:49 PM on 06/17/2011

done.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/I-hate-Haynes-Management-Inc/111742002249387

[livefortruth]

12:08 PM on 06/17/2011

"to deal with the problem was too much for his employer, Haynes Management,"

Haynes Management needs to disappear.

[hdc77494]

02:47 PM on 06/17/2011

Hey own office buildings, retail centers and apartments. So many customers who will want nothing to do with them. I hope the publicity drives them out of business.