A leading fully integrated biopharmaceutical solutions organization was sued Tuesday by a former territory account manager who alleges she was forced to quit in 2023 because she could no longer tolerate a work environment in which she was repeatedly challenged when she sought time off due to stomach burns and a shoulder injury.
Sarah Ann Brown’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against Syneos Health U.S. Inc. alleges discrimination, harassment, failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process, both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, supervision and retention and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Brown seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A Syneos representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
She was working for the Santa Monica-based organization in April 2023 when she accidentally burned herself by spilling a cup of tea on her chest, the suit states. She went on a medical leave, but the next month her recovery was impacted when she fell and injured her left shoulder, the suit states.
Due to the slow healing of both injuries, Brown asked human resources to extend her time off to September of that year, the suit states. However, human resources responded with a letter stating that she needed to return by late August or her job “may be affected,” according to Brown’s complaint.
Brown sought a compromise of returning to work for “just a little bit,” but management said she would be terminated if she did not return full time, so she complied out of fear of losing her position, the suit states.
However, Brown experienced severe pain during lengthy required training sessions on a computer and was not allowed to work part-time, which she believed would have helped her better manage her suffering, the suit states.
Brown also was ordered to fly to North Carolina as part of her training, but although that trip was cancelled, Syneos insisted she take a subsequent training trip to Alaska, denied her request to train virtually and told her that the company had been “more than accommodating,” the suit states.
Turbulence during the Alaska flight aggravated Brown’s shoulder injury, leaving her in extreme pain for the entire duration of the flight, the suit states.
“Knowing that she would not get a reprieve from the constant trainings and flights, and fearing for her health, Brown made the difficult decision to resign (in September 2023),” according to the suit, which further states that Brown has suffered lost past and future income and benefits as well as emotional distress.