A United Airlines flight attendant battling AIDS alleges he was fired for taking sick days to receive treatment for his worsening health, which the carrier considered “excessive medical absences”, according to state and federal court records.
About the case of Panzl, who was fired for taking sick days
Flight attendant Timothy Panzl (62) began working for United Airlines in October 1990 and was diagnosed with AIDS in 2002. From then on, he was forced to call in sick roughly twice a month “for worsening health or medical appointments.”
This continued for more than two decades without major issue. But in June 2023, after calling out sick before a trip, Panzl was informed he had been removed from the schedule, according to the complaint.
The complaint, which was initially filed June 5 in California Superior Court before being removed to San Diego federal court on August 8, says Panzl had “never been given any warning before his termination” and that he had requested “approximately the same amount of excused absences as he had done for the past 21 years.”
He was then put under disciplinary investigation and soon received a letter from management that said his “dependability record warrants termination.”
The letter read, “Communicate and perform all duties in a safe, courteous, helpful, competent, dependable and businesslike manner; and work dependably – keep your attendance regular and arrive at work at the time and on the day you are scheduled.”
Flight attendant Panzl was stripped of all travel privileges and instructed to FedEx back his crew badge and ID card, parking permit, company-issued flashlight, iPhone, battery packs, charging cables and “United blue protective cover and phone storage case”.
Attorney Mahru Madjidi, one of the lawyers representing Panzl, told The Independent that United “unlawfully punished” his client after nearly 33 years of service.
“Instead of honouring their duty to accommodate his disability, which they had in the past, they in turn weaponised it to justify his sudden firing,” Madjidi said. “We hope to hold United accountable for their actions against a dedicated employee who was forced to choose between his health and his livelihood.”
United did not respond to a request for comment.
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