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Writer's pictureKirstin Kennedy

Health care worker alleges discrimination by PA company

Updated: Jul 6, 2020

For immediate release

PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania health care company has been accused of engaging in discrimination against an older employee in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

According to a complaint filed in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, Plaintiff William Harris was sixty years old when he began working as a Senior Healthcare Consultant/Delivery Lead for HM Health Solutions, Inc. in August 2016. He was both the oldest employee and the only Caucasian staff member, according to the complaint. Mr. Harris alleged that, upon his hiring, he did not receive appropriate training, and he regularly notified management of his need for support. According to the complaint, several of Mr. Harris’ co-workers participated in a training program dubbed “boot camp.” Mr. Harris was not included in the training, and he was told by management that he “wouldn’t understand” the content of the program, according to the complaint.


Mr. Harris alleged that he was the only employee kept out of the training program. According to the filing, he was placed on a Corrective Action Plan (“CAP”) in December 2017 after he received two “off track” performance reviews. Mr. Harris contested the reviews, according to the complaint. He alleged that management agreed that he, in reality, had not receive the negative reviews, but chose to keep him on the CAP. According to the complaint, this meant that he was ineligible for an end-of-the-year bonus and pay raise. Mr. Harris was provided no reasoning for management’s insistence that he participated the CAP, according to the complaint.

Mr. Harris alleged that he planned a vacation between May 21, 2018 through May 25, 2018 to Tampa, Florida. According to the complaint, at the time that he was scheduled to return to Pennsylvania, all return flights were delayed or cancelled due to Tropical Storm Alberto. As a result, according to the filing, he continued to work remotely while waiting to return. Mr. Harris alleged that, as soon as he returned to work, he was told that his performance “went down.” According to the complaint, he was terminated the next day. The company then withheld his medical flex spending account and his $7,000.00 pension, according to the filing.

The two-count complaint charges that HM Health Solutions, Inc. engaged in discriminatory practices against Mr. Piatt in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Prior to the filing of the lawsuit, Mr. Harris filed a complaint through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was provided a right to sue. The lawsuit was filed by Attorney Prabhu Narahari on June 8, 2020.

Ruppert Manes Narahari is a Pittsburgh-based employment law firm representing workers who have been wrongfully terminated, harassed, or cheated by their employers. The firm also provides business law-related services and represents small businesses and entrepreneurs in startup, transactional, and litigation matters.

For more information on the claims made by Mr. Harris against HM Health Solutions, Inc., contact the law office of Ruppert Manes Narahari at 412-626-5626.For immediate release

PITTSBURGH – A Pennsylvania health care company has been accused of engaging in discrimination against an older employee in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

According to a complaint filed in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, Plaintiff William Harris was sixty years old when he began working as a Senior Healthcare Consultant/Delivery Lead for HM Health Solutions, Inc. in August 2016. He was both the oldest employee and the only Caucasian staff member, according to the complaint. Mr. Harris alleged that, upon his hiring, he did not receive appropriate training, and he regularly notified management of his need for support. According to the complaint, several of Mr. Harris’ co-workers participated in a training program dubbed “boot camp.” Mr. Harris was not included in the training, and he was told by management that he “wouldn’t understand” the content of the program, according to the complaint.

Mr. Harris alleged that he was the only employee kept out of the training program. According to the filing, he was placed on a Corrective Action Plan (“CAP”) in December 2017 after he received two “off track” performance reviews. Mr. Harris contested the reviews, according to the complaint. He alleged that management agreed that he, in reality, had not receive the negative reviews, but chose to keep him on the CAP. According to the complaint, this meant that he was ineligible for an end-of-the-year bonus and pay raise. Mr. Harris was provided no reasoning for management’s insistence that he participated the CAP, according to the complaint.

Mr. Harris alleged that he planned a vacation between May 21, 2018 through May 25, 2018 to Tampa, Florida. According to the complaint, at the time that he was scheduled to return to Pennsylvania, all return flights were delayed or cancelled due to Tropical Storm Alberto. As a result, according to the filing, he continued to work remotely while waiting to return. Mr. Harris alleged that, as soon as he returned to work, he was told that his performance “went down.” According to the complaint, he was terminated the next day. The company then withheld his medical flex spending account and his $7,000.00 pension, according to the filing.

The two-count complaint charges that HM Health Solutions, Inc. engaged in discriminatory practices against Mr. Piatt in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Prior to the filing of the lawsuit, Mr. Harris filed a complaint through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and was provided a right to sue. The lawsuit was filed by Attorney Prabhu Narahari on June 8, 2020.

Ruppert Manes Narahari is a Pittsburgh-based employment law firm representing workers who have been wrongfully terminated, harassed, or cheated by their employers. The firm also provides business law-related services and represents small businesses and entrepreneurs in startup, transactional, and litigation matters.

For more information on the claims made by Mr. Harris against HM Health Solutions, Inc., contact the law office of Ruppert Manes Narahari at 412-626-5626.

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