EMPLOYMENT LAW: Indianapolis Catholic Hospital Faces Retaliation Suit

August 8, 2011

Indianapolis, Indiana- A National Catholic Health Care System has faced retaliation charges after refusing to provide severance pay to an employee who filed discrimination suit.

According to reports, Trinity Health Corporation has a policy of withholding severance pay to employees who file discrimination lawsuits to Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This policy channels to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center which is its daughter company, and where Becky Thompson is employed.

Thompson said in her EEOC complaint that her employer refused to pay severance after learning that she has filed a discrimination lawsuit. She narrated how the hospital administration has also discontinued severance payments to other employees who reported misconduct to the federal agency.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit in US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. The federal agency is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as permanent injunction to prevent further violations, reports said.