Former Tesla employee says he was fired for being deaf, sues company
Hans Kohls, a former Tesla worker who is deaf, is suing the company for disability discrimination.
He says his hearing aids stopped working in the extreme heat of Tesla's Austin Gigafactory—think 1,220°F in the aluminum casting area.
After asking to move to a cooler department under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Kohls claims Tesla denied his request and then fired him just nine days later for "medical separation."
Lawsuit highlights missed accommodations and family impact
Kohls's lawsuit argues that Tesla didn't consider simple fixes like visual alarms or vibrating alerts before letting him go.
He's asking for his job back, lost pay, and damages for emotional stress—especially since losing his job also meant losing health insurance for his pregnant wife.
So far, Tesla hasn't responded to the claims.