In an important development, the Massachusetts Appeals Court has upheld a superior court decision stating that Tufts Medical Center had discriminated against one of its nurses on the grounds of her disability. The case in question is related to the medical center’s failure to offer nurse Marie Lunie Dalexis a reasonable provision for her inability to work overtime.
Despite Tufts Medical Center’s appeal following the judgment of the Superior Court, the verdict stood confirmed. This judgment had backed the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination’s resolution, which concluded that the health institution practiced discrimination against Ms. Dalexis due to her disability.
As the court noted in its deliberation, overtime can indeed be deemed essential in a variety of professional scenarios. Nevertheless, according to the court, “the fact that overtime has been found to be an essential function in certain settings does not compel the conclusion that it is an essential function in the circumstances of the present case.” Accordingly, the court appears to suggest overtime isn’t necessarily an essential function across all workplaces or roles, and its imposition could lead to discriminatory practices.
For more details on the court’s consideration and ruling, check out this
report .