A recent legal filing alleges that an employee was terminated from his position after more than a decade of service because of his age and gender, raising questions about workplace discrimination policies at a major healthcare company. The complaint was filed by Robert Jeffrey Mason in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on April 1, 2026, naming Cardinal Health, Inc. as the defendant.
According to the court documents, Mason served as Supervisor of Operations/Quality Inventory Control Supervisor for approximately ten years at Cardinal Health. During this time, he supervised a team of about ten employees and consistently received positive performance reviews without any disciplinary actions noted in his record.
The dispute centers around events that began on September 22, 2025, when Mason hired Raleigh O’Connor, a female employee in her mid-20s. Mason conducted all three interviews with O’Connor before she was hired for the department. Less than a week after her start date, O’Connor reportedly made approximately twelve complaints about Mason’s conduct to Cardinal Health management. The filing states that not all complaints were shared with Mason but outlines several specific allegations.
Among the complaints were claims that Mason only greeted O’Connor with “good morning,” requested her cell phone number (which he asserts was standard practice for all team members), helped set up her computer due to IT unavailability, asked if she was upset following a work-related discussion, assigned her duties previously held by her predecessor, referred to her as being “in a cage” (a term also used for others working in secure storage areas), and told another employee she got the job because she was “pretty.” Additional allegations included following O’Connor out of the building at shift end—something Mason disputes by referencing security camera footage—and making comments related to seating arrangements within office cubicles.
Mason contends these allegations are either false or mischaracterized routine workplace interactions. He also points out that shortly after joining the department, O’Connor discussed visiting a strip club with coworkers; Mason later texted her referencing an anecdote involving his young daughter and a local establishment called “House of Babes.” According to the complaint, O’Connor faced no discipline for this conversation.
On October 16, 2025, Cardinal Health suspended Mason with pay without providing an immediate reason. Five days later he was informed he could not return until an investigation concluded. On October 23, 2025—two days after that notice—Mason’s employment was terminated. The stated reasons were “inappropriate comments to a female employee,” “violations of the standard of conduct,” and “harassment and bullying.”
Mason’s lawsuit challenges these grounds as pretextual. He asserts: “Defendant’s reasons for Plaintiff’s termination are false and/or not believable… had any male made similar complaints about a female coworker they would have been easily dismissed.” He further claims that if a female employee had acted similarly to him under comparable circumstances she would not have been terminated.
The complaint includes two main counts: age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Ohio Title 4112; and gender discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Ohio Title 4112. In support of his age discrimination claim, Mason notes he is over forty years old—specifically sixty-five at the time—and argues he was treated differently than younger employees performing similar roles. For gender discrimination, he maintains that Title VII prohibits such bias even against majority groups like men: “Defendant discriminated against Plaintiff with respect to the terms, conditions, and privileges of his employment because of his gender.”
Mason is seeking compensatory damages for emotional distress, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages and income along with other benefits allegedly denied due to his termination. He also requests punitive damages for what he describes as intentional or reckless disregard for protected rights under federal law. Additionally, Mason asks for attorney fees incurred during litigation as well as any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
The case is being handled by attorneys Erica Ann Probst and Andrea L. Salvino from Kemp Schaeffer & Rowe Co., L.P.A., located in Columbus. The case identification number is 2:26-cv-00394-MHW-SCS.
Source: 226cv00394_Mason_v_Cardinal_Health_Inc_Complaint_Southern_District_Ohio.pdf
