For Employer, That’s One Expensive Birthday Party

As a result of a lawsuit, a Kentucky employer must pay $450,000 to a former employee after throwing him a surprise birthday party. The man, who suffers from panic attacks, had apparently asked his employer not to throw him a surprise birthday party.

It was evidently their normal practice for employees. It appears the company, Gravity Diagnostics, did not correctly diagnose the gravity of the request, as they went ahead and had the party.

According to news reports, the man had a panic attack, was counseled the next day which caused another panic attack, and he was then terminated from the company for his behavior.

I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing it wasn’t the bestest birthday he had ever had. But then again, it was no picnic for his employer, either.

It is said when his coworkers threw him a party despite his request they do not do so, it triggered the panic attack. He was called in for a meeting the following day, ‘where his superiors "criticized" him for how he had handled the party, resulting in another panic attack.’