After Having A Panic Attack Caused By The Surprise Birthday Party Organized At His Office, Man Is Unfairly Fired For His Behavior, And Sues The Company

A workplace birthday party turned into a nightmare for one employee, and the fallout ended up in court. Kevin Berling had already told his manager that he did not want any surprise celebration because he lives with panic attacks and an anxiety disorder.

Even so, coworkers organized the party anyway, and the attention quickly overwhelmed him. What happened next led to a firing, a lawsuit, and a $450,000 payout that put the company’s handling of the situation under a harsh spotlight.

Now the story is drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. Read on.

Kevin Berling was an employee of Gravity Diagnostics.

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The company regularly held small parties for its employees to celebrate their birthdays during lunch breaks.

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With that knowledge, Berling informed his manager not to throw a party for him because of his condition.

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The manager listened to Berling.

Unfortunately, she forgot to inform others, and after five days, a party was held for Berling. His panic attacks began, so he had no choice but to return to his car.

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The next day, his utterly insensitive boss made unfair criticisms.

He was told that he was being childish and that he had taken away the joy from his coworkers.

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Too much attention is something that Berling can't handle. That's why he informed his manager about his condition.

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That is where things started to spiral.

The way he was treated after the party triggered another panic attack.

Berling's lawyer, Tony Butcher, explains that during panic attacks, his client hugs himself to cope with his condition. Instead of understanding Berling's plight, they simply told him to stop, but since he couldn't, they just walked away.

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To his coworkers, it appeared as though he was enraged.

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As a result, Berling's key was taken away, and he was banned from entering the workplace.

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Berling was sent home. He was also informed of his termination due to the events of the past week.

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The ex-employee sued the company for violating the Kentucky Civil Rights Act because he was unfairly fired due to his disability, and they threw a birthday party against his wishes.

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The company defended itself by claiming that Berling was unable to prove his disability and that the workplace wasn't safe with his presence.

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Berling won the case because the jury proved that he suffers from a disability and that the company failed to provide a safe environment for his condition.

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The company had to settle a total of $450,000, which included lost wages and benefits, plus damages resulting from the incidents.

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The case quickly spread online, and people had a lot to say about mental health, boundaries, and workplace respect.

This also echoes the dilemma in a friend flaking on your birthday party, and whether you can skip their event.

The story gained widespread attention, and mental illnesses became a topic of discussion online.

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People also talked about listening to others' requests, appreciating employees for their hard work, and respecting boundaries.

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Many people could relate to Berling because they also disliked being the center of attention.

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Online, people acknowledged what Berling was going through.

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One comment summed up the frustration pretty clearly.

According to an expert, the company should have done its best to accommodate the condition after the manager was informed about it.

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For example, companies can implement programs that provide individuals with mental health conditions access to licensed professionals.

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The topic became a hot discussion on Twitter.

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Overall, people criticized the company for the incident.

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In the end, the whole mess came down to one ignored request.

Every mental health condition should be taken seriously by employers.

If Berling's manager had informed others about his condition and the party hadn't been held, it wouldn't have been a problem. Instead of being discriminatory by firing him, the company should have initiated efforts to create an environment where individuals with mental health issues can thrive.

After Kevin Berling got fired for a panic attack triggered by his surprise office party, this WIBTA question about enforcing a pet-friendly policy at work is next.