New Delhi, January 26: A Lenovo employee was reportedly fired from the company for urinating in a New York hotel lobby and is now seeking USD 1.5 million in compensation. The incident took place after a work dinner when the employee, who suffers from a chronic bladder condition, found himself in urgent need of a restroom.

Unable to reach the hotel's main lobby restroom in time, he reportedly relieved himself in the vestibule located on a separate floor. The incident has led to legal implications, as the employee reportedly claimed wrongful termination and discrimination due to his medical condition. IBM Layoffs: US Tech Giant Laying Off 1,000 Employees and Shutting Down Its R&D Division in China.

As per a report of India Today, Richard Becker, a 66-year-old salesman at Lenovo, was dismissed from his position following the incident that occurred in February 2024. After attending a work dinner, Becker was heading back to his Times Square hotel when he experienced an urgent need to urinate due to his chronic bladder condition, which he had been managing since 2016, as per a report of Times of India. The New York City hotel's main lobby restroom was out of reach and in his urgency, so Becker allegedly ended up urinating in a secluded area of the hotel.

The situation escalated when a colleague witnessed Becker urinating and reported the incident to Lenovo’s Human Resources department. Despite being aware of Becker's medical condition, Lenovo conducted an investigation and he was not given a chance to explain himself before being terminated. Becker reportedly decided to take legal action against Lenovo's American subsidiary because he felt that he had been treated unfairly and that his dismissal was unreasonable. General Motors Layoffs: US Automobile Manufacturing Company GM Lays Off Around 1,000 Employees To Reduce Costs Amid Industry Downturn.

Richard Becker is reportedly suing Lenovo for at least USD 1.5 million, alleging that the company discriminated against him due to his disability.  As per reports, he claims that his medical condition was well-known to his colleagues and managers and that he was under the care of a urologist. The lawsuit argues that Lenovo violated New York State and City human rights laws, which protect individuals with disabilities. Becker’s legal team is seeking compensation for the financial loss suffered from losing his job and the emotional distress caused by the incident.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2024 07:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).