FirstKey Homes, a Georgia-based property management firm, is facing a federal lawsuit in North Carolina over allegations it retaliated against a former employee who sought disability-related work accommodations.
According to court filings, Sharon Felico, a North Carolina resident, said she was terminated after repeatedly asking to remain a fully remote employee despite the company’s January 2024 return-to-office mandate, which required staff to be onsite five days a week.
Felico, who suffers from post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorders, argued that remote work was not a preference but a necessity. She submitted a doctor’s note recommending she be allowed to work from home three days per week, but FirstKey only granted two days.
Retaliation and Hostile Assignments
In her complaint, Felico contends that her manager dismissed the legitimacy of her disability, excluding her from workplace activities and giving her demeaning tasks—including the emotional burden of notifying colleagues they were being terminated.
She alleges that the hostile treatment escalated into retaliation. On March 6, 2024, FirstKey suspended her following an internal audit that cited a policy violation. Less than a month later, on April 3, she was fired.
“Plaintiff’s termination was based solely on discrimination against Plaintiff due to her disability, and in retaliation based on Plaintiff’s request for a reasonable accommodation,” the lawsuit states.
