Tim Hill, the former program director and co-host of the morning show at 107.5 The Game in Columbia is suing Cumulus Media for failing to accommodate religious beliefs that he claims are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
This lawsuit, which has been filed in the U.S. District Court in the locale, is related to Hill’s refusal to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, something that was mandated by the company. In August 2021, Cumulus became the first broadcast radio company in the United States to institute such a mandate, which occurred ahead of its return-to-office date of Oct. 11. Inside Radio was first to report the news of Hill’s lawsuit against the company.
The lawsuit, which also alleges unlawful discharge, breach of contract, and retaliation, states that Tim Hill had worked from home for 18 months beginning in April 2020. With the announcement of the vaccine requirement, he requested religious accommodation to be exempt and answered additional questions about his request from the head of human resources when asked. The next day, his request was denied because of the “undue hardship on the company due to the nature of Plaintiff’s employment position.” Hill’s lawsuit affirms that Cumulus had no further inquiry about his religious beliefs and how they would conflict with the policy.
As the disputation continued, Hill suggested alternative methods to receiving the vaccine, which included masking, social distancing, wearing a face shield, continuing remote work, and installing an air filtration system with no cost incurred upon the company. These proposals were denied without “any interactive process,” according to the complaint. Tim Hill was fired on Oct. 11, 2021, for refusing to get the vaccine and is now suing for back pay, front pay, emotional distress damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, interest, and attorney fees.
Cumulus has yet to file a response to the lawsuit, the second such litigation due to its policy. Former News/Talk 98.9 WKIM Memphis morning show co-host Bob Boccia filed a similar lawsuit in May of this year, which the company denied in court.
