Former Colorado Public Radio host and reporter Vic Vela, who rose to prominence in recent times via his podcast about dependancy, restoration and psychological well being, filed complaints Tuesday with state and federal incapacity authorities alleging he was fired in January as a result of he requested for lodging to assist preserve his sobriety.
Vela, who has candidly mentioned his restoration from a crack cocaine dependancy and his struggles with HIV, alleges in joint U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee and Colorado Civil Rights Division complaints that the radio station violated the People with Disabilities Act and a Colorado anti-discrimination regulation by failing to accommodate his incapacity wants.
Vela additionally claims CPR’s leaders accused him of utilizing his restoration as a software of manipulation.
“A giant motive why we’re right here speaking right this moment is as a result of I had hoped that CPR would work in good religion with my attorneys to attempt to resolve this,” Vela, who labored at CPR for 9 years and is understood for his “Again From Damaged” podcast, instructed The Colorado Solar in an interview on Tuesday. “However not solely on the day once they fired me over the telephone did they are saying they might deny me unemployment, (however) now they’re actively combating me on unemployment.”
CPR, in a blunt assertion Tuesday, stated that “any allegations related to discrimination by CPR in the direction of this particular person are false” and instructed that Vela had been abusive or hostile to coworkers.
“Whereas we usually don’t touch upon personnel selections, because of the public dialog about this problem, and in an effort to extend transparency about administration selections, we really feel it is very important make this assertion,” the assertion stated.
The station stated that “it doesn’t tolerate harassment or hostile, abusive or discriminatory behaviors of any sort from any worker — no matter their energy, affect or place.”
Vela’s criticism doesn’t search a particular treatment, however his legal professional Iris Halpern, of the distinguished Denver civil rights agency Rathod Mohamedbhai, stated “we’d be asking for Vic to be made complete.” Halpern didn’t elaborate.
“However I feel for Vic crucial factor can also be guaranteeing that this sort of discrimination doesn’t occur once more,” she stated, additionally alleging that CPR retaliated towards Vela when he requested for assist.
Vela, who labored as CPR’s weekend host, stated the lodging he requested for, however was not offered, included:
- Transferring manufacturing of the “Again From Damaged” podcast into the newsroom from CPR’s audio improvements unit as a result of he was clashing with a supervisor whom he felt was hostile towards dependancy restoration
- Assets to deal with a disturbing work surroundings — together with the station’s monetary struggles — from the pinnacle of human assets, who promised to supply that help. “I used to be usually telling CPR management that the problems happening with the morale — that it was affecting my psychological well being, it was affecting my ongoing restoration,” Vela stated. “If you realize something about dependancy, the one factor that you just be taught in restoration is it’s important to acknowledge triggers.”
- Asking a supervisor to be current for troublesome office conversations that may very well be triggering
Halpern stated the People with Disabilities Act obligates employers — not workers — to develop lodging for employees who fall below its protections and ask for help.
Vela stated he resigned within the spring of 2023 after receiving a smaller annual elevate than he had beforehand as a result of CPR alleged he had conflicts with different workers. Nonetheless, he shortly rescinded his resignation after receiving reassurances from the pinnacle of human assets concerning the assist he would obtain. He says she by no means adopted via.
Vela wrote in his EEOC/CCRD criticism that in a single assembly with CPR’s leaders, he complained “about being picked on due to my historical past of dependancy. I famous that such disparate remedy might trigger ‘triggers,’ which in my case, may ‘ship me again to the crack home.’” He wrote that senior workers “took my phrases out of context and threw them again at me, accusing me of ‘utilizing my dependancy to govern us.’”
Vela stated he was instructed he was fired for insubordination.
“It was clear to me that they had been in search of a motive to do away with me,” he stated within the interview Tuesday. “I had conflicts with the higher management, which, I imply, effectively, in fact, within the sense that wasn’t being listened to. When I’ve a senior vice chairman mocking my dependancy and restoration course of, I’m going to face up for myself and I’m going to talk out. But it surely was by no means something that rose to the extent of being inappropriate.”
Vela’s seven-page criticism, nonetheless, does record one “minor incident with a brand new worker who felt I had been disrespectful to him in one in every of my communications on an inner messaging board” that resulted in an HR criticism in early 2023. However the doc stated “nothing got here of the criticism” and Vela chalked the state of affairs as much as a misunderstanding.
It might take a 12 months or extra earlier than the EEOC and Colorado Civil Rights Division investigates the case and decides whether or not to pursue Vela’s claims. Halpern stated Vela can’t file a lawsuit towards CPR till his complaints have been with the businesses for not less than six months.
The declare was filed a number of days after CPR introduced it was shedding 15 individuals in its audio and podcast manufacturing departments due to what CPR President and CEO Stewart Vanderwilt referred to as “altering financial realities.”
The layoffs included members of the division that produced “Again From Damaged.”
Vela stated he would love to remain in journalism however as a result of most media organizations are struggling economically, the choices are restricted. “I do know that I’m going to proceed speaking about restoration,” he stated.
Vela stated he takes no pleasure in speaking about his points at CPR, “as a result of it was my household — and it’s like I used to be kicked out of a household.”
