Tesla Terminates Employee's Job for Failing to Accommodate Hearing Disability Amid "Extreme" Heat Conditions, Lawsuit Claims.
A former Tesla employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that his termination was in violation of federal law. Hans Khols, who is deaf, claims that he was hired as an equipment technician at the Gigafactory despite being aware of his disability and having communicated his needs during the interview process. However, after working for nine days without any issues, Khols requested to be transferred to a department with more suitable environmental conditions due to the excessive heat caused by the manufacturing process.
Khols' hearing aids malfunctioned as a result of the extreme temperatures, preventing him from reliably hearing safety signals in that environment. He believes that he made an "environmental accommodation" request, which is a fundamental right under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Tesla failed to comply with it. The company allegedly told Khols that he was being "medically separated" just nine days after his accommodation request.
The lawsuit claims that the Casting Department's heat conditions far exceeded standard industrial levels, reaching temperatures of approximately 1,220°F during die-casting operations. It is alleged that Tesla knew about Khols' disability and had other departments available where he could have worked without any issues.
Khols outperformed his peers in Tesla's training program and successfully worked in multiple departments at the Gigafactory before requesting an accommodation. He asked for nothing more than reassignment to a role where extreme heat wouldn't damage his hearing aids, which is a basic requirement under the ADA. However, instead of complying with the law, Tesla terminated Khols' employment.
The lawsuit highlights the need for companies to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, ensuring that they can perform their job duties without facing undue hardship or risk of harm.
A former Tesla employee has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that his termination was in violation of federal law. Hans Khols, who is deaf, claims that he was hired as an equipment technician at the Gigafactory despite being aware of his disability and having communicated his needs during the interview process. However, after working for nine days without any issues, Khols requested to be transferred to a department with more suitable environmental conditions due to the excessive heat caused by the manufacturing process.
Khols' hearing aids malfunctioned as a result of the extreme temperatures, preventing him from reliably hearing safety signals in that environment. He believes that he made an "environmental accommodation" request, which is a fundamental right under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Tesla failed to comply with it. The company allegedly told Khols that he was being "medically separated" just nine days after his accommodation request.
The lawsuit claims that the Casting Department's heat conditions far exceeded standard industrial levels, reaching temperatures of approximately 1,220°F during die-casting operations. It is alleged that Tesla knew about Khols' disability and had other departments available where he could have worked without any issues.
Khols outperformed his peers in Tesla's training program and successfully worked in multiple departments at the Gigafactory before requesting an accommodation. He asked for nothing more than reassignment to a role where extreme heat wouldn't damage his hearing aids, which is a basic requirement under the ADA. However, instead of complying with the law, Tesla terminated Khols' employment.
The lawsuit highlights the need for companies to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, ensuring that they can perform their job duties without facing undue hardship or risk of harm.
this is so crazy! like tesla is a company that's all about innovation and making things more sustainable, but it turns out they're not very good at accommodating people with disabilities 
. the fact that they knew hans was deaf and still put him in a job where his hearing aids would malfunction is just wrong 
. it's like they didn't even care about following the law or being a decent employer 
. i mean, who needs to follow ada when you're making electric cars? 
This is just heartbreaking... I cant believe a company as innovative and forward-thinking like Tesla would turn its back on one of its own who just wants to do their job safely 
. Hans's story is a clear example of how accommodations can make all the difference in creating an inclusive work environment 
. It's not about needing special treatment, it's about having equal access to opportunities and resources 
. Tesla should be held accountable for its actions and I hope this lawsuit brings about some much-needed change 
like how could a company just terminate someone's job over something that's literally not even related to their job description? Hans Khols was perfectly capable and doing great work, he just needed some accommodations to deal with the heat... it's not like he was asking for special treatment or anything 
. I hope this lawsuit leads to some serious reforms and raises awareness about the importance of accessibility in the workplace 
.
this is like so not cool... tesla knows about hans khols' hearing disability and they just ignore it? what kinda company does that? 
. Heat conditions are extreme 
, that's no excuse 
, not just follow laws 
. This lawsuit should make them rethink 
. Khols' hearing aids failed because of heat, it's not a reflection on his work ethic 
, so why let him go? 
. tesla needs to be held accountable here and set a good example for other companies to follow.
And it sounds like Tesla had other departments available that could have worked out without any issues.
They need to step up and provide reasonable accommodations under the ADA 
And it's not just about Hans' job security, it's about ensuring that all employees with disabilities can do their jobs without fear of harm or hardship 
. I mean, can you imagine showing up to work and your hearing aids are literally failing you because the place is too hot? It's like Tesla thought Hans' disability was a suggestion, not something that needed actual accommodations 
.
, it's basic human rights stuff.
.
i cant even imagine having a hearing disability and then being fired because of it 
They knew he was deaf and now he's out a job over heat? That's not cool 
. I mean, come on Tesla, if someone's got a hearing impairment, can't you just give 'em some earplugs or something? It's not rocket science 
. This guy's request was legit and now he's out of a job? That's just hot-headed 
. I'm not surprised that Hans outperformed his peers in training and was a great equipment technician 
.
. This is not just about one person, it's about creating a workplace that values everyone's well-being and success 
.
. We always talk about how we want to be a more inclusive and empathetic world, but actions speak louder than words, right? 
.
. Do we ask for help when we need it, or do we just try to tough it out 
. We might just find that we're not as separate as we thought