She says she backed a colleague facing homophobic remarks. Then came her termination
A nurse claims she lost her job after standing up for a coworker facing homophobic harassment at a Pittsburgh hospital.
Patrianne Stevenson has taken Select Employment Services and Select Specialty Hospital – Pittsburgh/UPMC to federal court, alleging her termination was retaliation for supporting a colleague who reported workplace discrimination. The lawsuit, filed December 10 in Pennsylvania's Western District, raises questions about how employers handle internal complaints and protect employees who speak up.
The trouble started in early February, according to the filing. Stevenson found her coworker Connie visibly upset at their facility inside UPMC Montefiore Hospital. Connie explained that another nurse, Evan, had been making homophobic remarks about her sexuality, even asking other staff if they were gay simply because they spent time with her.
Stevenson, herself a member of the LGBTQ+ community, encouraged Connie to report the behavior to HR director Jennelle Taylor. She then submitted her own written statement backing up her colleague's account. Taylor opened an investigation.
What happened next, Stevenson alleges, amounted to payback. Her supervisor, charge nurse Macy, had been reprimanded for not addressing Evan's conduct sooner. From February through April, Stevenson claims Macy began manipulating her patient assignments, consistently handing her the most challenging cases requiring intensive care or involving violent patients. The hospital typically rotated these difficult assignments among staff to prevent burnout, but Stevenson says she bore the brunt alone. Colleagues noticed, asking why she always got stuck with the hardest patients.
The situation came to a head on April 2. Working the overnight shift, Stevenson developed a severe migraine around 2 a.m. and rested her head on her desk to cope with the pain. Macy walked by, and Stevenson explained she had a migraine. Macy sent her home. Before leaving, Stevenson completed a full handoff report for her patients.
Later that morning, Taylor called asking for a written explanation, which Stevenson provided. Then colleagues started texting and calling, asking if she had been fired. Macy, it seemed, was spreading word that Stevenson was out. When Stevenson alerted Taylor to these rumors, she was told the hospital would "address as needed."
Two days later, on April 4, Taylor called with the news: Stevenson was terminated for "the appearance of sleeping."
Stevenson questioned why she received no warning when the hospital typically followed progressive discipline. She pointed out three coworkers who actually slept on the job without consequence. Roy had been caught sleeping multiple times. Connie regularly put her head down at her desk near Macy. Diane routinely slept during shifts. None faced termination or formal discipline.
Taylor's response, according to the lawsuit: "We received the report from Macy, it is all we needed."
Stevenson, who started at the hospital in August 2024 earning $40.90 hourly, filed a discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September and received her right to sue shortly after. She is seeking damages and back pay. The defendants have not yet responded to the allegations.
