http://abcnews.go.com/Business/massachusetts-man-fired-revealing-wife-cancer/story?id=13845661
I think that it probably wasn't a problem, until he said he may have sporatic hours due to the illness. The business likely didn't care she had cancer, burst into flames, or was infecting people with the ebola virus (this is business after all). But, say your hours would be sporatic, even if you would get work done, is a no-no. So, no matter how many good years you had with the company, this one bit means you are gone. Of course the company ended up saying utter B.S about how they were considering laying him off. They then, after he is let go, post an ad for his position.
Maybe the rules should be changed to make it fully at will, and companies can flat out say you were fired for age, health of family member, religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation, or the fact you refused to sleep with your boss when said you either sleep with them or you are fired. If the rules were changed, then at least employers could be honest, and not fear legal action. Sure, why not? Why not allow employers to run whatever baudy and sexually offensive places they have, if that is what works to generate income. Shoot, why not allow smoking in the building either, and they can can people who refuse to smoke. Heck, if an employer, for example, finds you like Fox News, and listens to it in the car, the could fire you for that also. At least doing this would enable businesses to be more properly labelled, and the free market could help better pick the winners and losers.
