SAN FRANCISCO, June 5 CA-Law-Office-Kaiser
SAN FRANCISCO, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeffery Sterman, Public Affairs
Director and voice of Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco for ten years is
claiming AIDS discrimination and breach of contract. A person with AIDS,
Sterman is one of those who helped create the hospital's response to HIV and
AIDS.
David J. St. Louis, Sterman's attorney, filed the action in California
Superior Court in San Francisco and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan was served
June 3, 2008.
The lawsuit details how Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Health Plan created
a culture where employees are physically harmed and patient care compromised.
Workloads are increased. Staffs are reduced. Humiliation and pressure became
part of the working experience. Staffs experienced burnout from working 60 to
80 hours, often seven days a week, for an organization in constant crisis
mode. Sterman's Kaiser Permanente doctors said the hostile work environment
affected his health.
They are charged with violation of Title VII of the United States Code,
the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Article I, Section 8 of the California Constitution.
Sterman said, "The current toxic corporate culture is the antithesis of
the Thrive marketing plan and the quality of patient care being compromised."
Turnover of executives is staggering. "In nine years, San Francisco had
six Senior Vice Presidents/Area Managers and two interim Senior Vice
Presidents/Area Managers. Of those, three are still there, three were fired,
two "retired".
Problems with the Renal Transplant Program in San Francisco caused record
fines after the California Department of Managed Care noted significant
management deficiencies.
Sterman is a pioneer in the fight against AIDS. Diagnosed with AIDS in
1983, he founded Continuum HIV Day Services in 1987. He was responsible for
first Congressional Field Hearing on AIDS and minorities. Joined Kaiser
Permanente's HIV Advisory Board in 1992 to bridge the gap between activists
and medical center staff.
Unlike colleagues, the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides
protection to speak out.
"It is unfortunate that employees are being physically harmed by Kaiser's
toxic work environment. It belittles the promise of Kaiser's multi million
dollar Thrive marketing campaign," he said.
SOURCE Law Office of David J. St. Louis
