Former manager claims Oakton CC fired her after cancer diagnosis

A former senior manager at Oakton Community College is claiming the Des Plaines school dismissed her last year after learning she has cancer.

Margaret Walsh, of Chicago, has filed a claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging the school violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by dismissing her in June while she was on leave for treatment of abdominal and ovarian cancer.

Walsh, 54, said she was hired at Oakton in November 2008, shortly after earning her master's degree from DePaul University. At the time of her dismissal about seven months later she was the senior manager of college's business institute, she said.

She was on the job for about four months when diagnosed in February 2009 with cancer. Walsh, at the time a probationary employee, said she was upfront with college officials about her illness and received an unpaid leave of absence until May 2009.

Walsh returned to work briefly, but said she was forced to seek a second medical leave in June. It was while she was on that second leave - and still considered a probationary worker - when the college sent a letter terminating her employment, citing, "the unfortunate timing and length of your need to be out of work while serving in a probationary status."

Oakton spokesman Bill Paige declined to comment because of the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Rita Coffey, program analyst for the EEOC's Chicago office, also declined to comment on the accusations, but said the average length of a claim investigation is six to seven months. By the end of the investigation, the EEOC will issue a letter of determination disclosing whether or not discrimination was found, she said.

If the person would like to sue, they can then do so independently of the EEOC, Coffey said. Many times, the case is resolved during the investigation, she added.

Walsh hopes the EEOC's findings will be known by the end of this year, saying her job loss and illness have left her in a difficult financial position.

"I was denied my husband's insurance, and took Oakton's when I was there," Walsh said. "When I tried to go back onto my husband's, I was denied for having a pre-existing condition. When the COBRA insurance is up, we don't know what we're going to do."