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The Great EEOC Roundup: November Edition


As always, there are some recent EEOC cases that jump out at me when I review developments on that front.  Below are a couple EEOC cases and settlements that stand out.


American Airlines & Envoy To Pay $9.8 Million to Settle Disability Discrimination Claims

Earlier this month, it was announced that Americans Airlines & Envoy would pay approximately $9.8 million (in stock) to settle disability discrimination claims that had been raised against the companies.  The allegations, in relevant part, alleged that the companies required all employees to not have any restrictions before returning to work from medical leave.  If an employee still had a restriction, they were not allowed to return to work as the companies apparently did not even provide an accommodation (nor even offer one).  This conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee because of a disability or refusing to offer a reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee unless the accommodation would impose a significant difficulty or expense on the employer.


Winner Ford to Pay $150,000 to Settle National Origin Discrimination Suit

A Ford dealer is alleged to have violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it paid Chinese technicians a lower wage than non-Chinese technicians.  When one of the Chinese technicians noticed the apparent pay disaparity and complained, he was reprimanded and told that if he sought legal advice he would be out of a job.  This conduct violates Title VII which prohibits an employer from discriminating against an employee on the basis of national origin or to retaliate against individuals who complain of apparent discrimination.

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