Occupational therapist sues Mount Nittany, alleges violation of labor law after termination
An occupational therapist who worked for Mount Nittany claimed in a lawsuit filed Monday that she was disciplined and later fired in retaliation for taking about three weeks off work to treat a serious mental health condition.
Rebekah Holenchik, of Philipsburg, argued in the suit that Mount Nittany violated the Family and Medical Leave Act when it terminated her in August 2022. She worked for the health system for about seven years.
The federal labor law requires covered employers to provide eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.
She took several weeks off in June 2022 to treat an unspecified mental health condition, her attorneys wrote in the lawsuit. When she returned to work, she said her supervisor issued a written warning for her “failure to divide the medical orders among the Therapists.”
The warning, her attorneys wrote, was “unjustified and absurd.” Holenchik registered a complaint, but claimed Mount Nittany failed to properly investigate her claim.
Instead, Holenchik’s attorneys said she was told she was fired for her refusal to treat a patient and for failing to refer them to another therapist. They described the move as “clearly pretextual” and not in line with Mount Nittany’s progressive disciplinary policy.
Holenchik also claimed in the lawsuit that she was routinely harassed by her male supervisor who spoke to her in a “rude and condescending manner.” In a department that was predominantly male, Holenchik alleged men were not subjected to similar comments.
A message was left Tuesday with her attorneys. A Mount Nittany Health spokesperson declined comment Tuesday, citing the health system’s policy of not speaking publicly about pending litigation.