"A Brooklyn federal jury has ordered National Grid to pay approximately $3.1 million to two former dispatchers after they were requests to work from home were denied. The ex-employees, Luciano Russo and George Messiha, argued that their productivity increased while working from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But in June 2022, National Grid ended its home-based schedules for New Yorkers."
"The verdict, handed down Oct. 10 in U.S. District Court, found the utility company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as New York City and state human-rights laws. The verdict affirmed the company violated the law when it refused Russo and Messiha remote-work accommodations. The jury awarded Russo $1.56 million and Messiha $1.55 million, including roughly $1 million in punitive damages each."
A Brooklyn federal jury ordered National Grid to pay approximately $3.1 million to two former dispatchers after refusing their requests to work from home. Luciano Russo and George Messiha showed increased productivity while working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, but National Grid ended home-based schedules in June 2022. Russo suffers from severe back problems and diabetes, and Messiha underwent hip surgery and uses a cane. The Oct. 10 verdict found violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York City and state human-rights laws, awarding roughly $1 million in punitive damages to each. National Grid disagrees and plans to pursue the matter further. The ruling could recognize remote work as a reasonable ADA accommodation when performance remains steady or improves.
Read at Black Enterprise
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