Paul Cronan and New England Telephone Company
             The Paul Cronan story is a depiction of America's prejudices and the reason why employment laws are necessary. Mr. Cronan was a long-time employee of New England Telephone Company since 1973, whose sexual preferences caused him to contact Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). As a service technician, his ailment left him missing work often to gain necessary treatment. His supervisor confronted him asking for explanation as to the missed work, and even though this supervisor promised confidentiality, word quickly spread of Mr. Cronan's ailment. Prejudices were evident as outlined in the case study, leaving him to fear of his safety on a daily basis. As his company illness benefits were discontinued, NET placed Mr. Cronan on Long-Term Disability, effectively terminating his employment and leaving the man with half his normal monthly income.
             In December of 1985, Mr. Cronan enlisted the Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (CLUM) to assist in filing a civil lawsuit charging violations of privacy law and discrimination against him. Through an out-of-court settlement it was agreed that Mr. Cronan could return to work and accommodations would be made at NET for his reinstatement. A walkout ensued as workers refused to enter the premises to gain work assignments. Workers filed a union grievance protesting the reinstatement as a violation of the safety and health agreement of their labor contract.
             Legal Issues; Weekly Issues Studied, Issues Applied to Case
             Employment at Will is the first subject broached this week as related to the employer and employees right to end employment. The key issue here is that it allows any employer to fire the employee at any time; as well, the employee may terminate his/her position at any time, without repercussion. The importance with this subject is that there are federal restrictions constituting illegal bases for termination; any bas...