One of the city’s best-known classical music radio hosts has been fired after 30-plus years at WFMT-FM (98.7), he said this week.
Dennis Moore, who started at the radio station in July 1990 and had been host of the WFMT Morning Program since 2018, said he lost his job following a dispute about his work schedule.
“They have not shown any willingness to work with me, which is what I find so totally dismaying,” Moore told the Chicago Sun-Times.
Moore said his attorney has filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
The host, who has been off the air since March, explained his situation in a Facebook post this week.
“My 30+ years at WFMT — during which I collaborated with so many wonderful colleagues, including Norm Pellegrini and Studs Terkel — were the highlight of my radio career. I will miss those colleagues and all of you, the engaged listeners who made my job worthwhile over the years,” he wrote.
Moore, 68, took a three-month leave of absence from the station earlier this year under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. He said he was expecting to return to work July 1.
“I was prepared to come back,” Moore said. “Things had largely resolved. I was feeling great.”
Moore wouldn’t discuss the specific reason for the leave of absence. Before his planned return to work, Moore had asked the station to make some accommodations for some “sleep issues,” he said.
Among other things, he suggested being able to work from his Chicago home, Moore said.
“My management rejected my request to do that, which would allow me to have a little more flexibility in my sleep time and a little more flexibility by not having to commute to the studio,” Moore said.
When he said he could not return to the show without any accommodations, Moore was fired, he said.
Asked about Moore’s status, a WFMT spokeswoman said in an email the station doesn’t discuss personnel matters.
At one point, Moore was asked to resign and was offered a financial package, he said. He refused to accept, Moore said.
For now, he is out of a job.
“To continue in the field of hosting classical music, I would have to look outside of the Chicago market to be able to do that. I’m not sure I want to relocate from Chicago at this point in my life,” Moore said.
