FOLLOW US

A former care team supervisor has launched a scathing legal battle against Optum Care Inc. and its parent company UnitedHealth Group, claiming she was wrongfully fired while on maternity leave and in violation of multiple California and federal labor laws.

In a lawsuit dated Monday and filed in California state court, Cindy Balladarez alleged that the companies terminated her on April 29, 2025, despite her strong performance and while she was still recovering from pregnancy-related complications, including postpartum depression, hypertension, and severe anxiety.

“Defendants’ conduct was willful, malicious, and oppressive,” Balladarez stated in the complaint, accusing the companies of violating her right to medical leave, freedom from discrimination, and protection from retaliation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), California Family Rights Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

‘High Performer’ with Documented Disabilities

Balladarez, who had been employed since February 2021, said she consistently scored above 90% in internal audits, yet despite her stellar record, she alleges that the companies used flimsy justifications—a lack of work or a role elimination—to explain her dismissal.

According to the complaint, these reasons were "pretextual": the companies were actively hiring for her role, offering similar jobs to others, and had simply renamed her job title to "care manager."

Balladarez had taken bereavement leave in September 2023 after the loss of a family member and medical leave for work-related stress in March 2023. She also formally complained in December 2024 about discriminatory treatment by a site administrator who allegedly imposed harsher schedule rules and biased recognition standards against her.

Her maternity leave began that same month and was expected to continue through June 12, 2025. But it was cut short when she was terminated by phone—a move Balladarez claims directly retaliated against her protected activity and health conditions.

Legal Fallout and Company Silence

The complaint paints the companies as engaged in deliberate misconduct, firing Balladarez while attempting to shield themselves behind misleading HR narratives.

Her legal team, led by Josh I. White and Ani A. Grigoryan of Laurel Employment Law APC, declined to comment Tuesday. Representatives for UnitedHealth and Optum also did not respond to inquiries.

The case adds to growing scrutiny of how major corporations handle parental leave and workplace discrimination, particularly as calls intensify for greater accountability and transparency in employer practices.

Balladarez seeks damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive penalties for what she describes as egregious disregard for her rights under both state and federal laws.