He had approved FMLA leave, a clean file, and a formal complaint on record
A production team leader at medical device giant Stryker is suing the company, alleging he was fired after taking approved medical leave for chronic health conditions - including diabetes.
The worker, who joined Stryker's fabrication department in Portage, Michigan, in June 2023, says his manager began treating his absences as a performance problem. This was despite the company having formally approved his leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The complaint, filed October 8, 2026, in the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, brings claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (which prohibits workplace discrimination based on disability), Michigan's disability rights law, and the FMLA. Stryker is a Fortune 500 medical technology company headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The worker started as a production team leader on second shift. His 2023 performance review rated him as "Valued Performance," according to the filing.
Then his health became a factor.
The complaint alleges the worker suffers from diabetes, gastroparesis, and chronic low back pain. In April 2024, Stryker approved a medical leave as an accommodation before he became eligible for FMLA leave. By late January 2025, the filing states, he was sent home from work due to "profuse sweating" - a symptom of his diabetes - and requested continuous FMLA leave.
Over the following months, Stryker approved...
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