Butterball, LLC Sued by EEOC for Harassment, Firing of HIV+ Employee

 

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against Butterball, LLC for violating federal law by subjecting an employee to a hostile work environment because she has Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The employee was harassed by co-workers and after letting her manager know about the harassment, she was fired. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects employees with disabilities from being harassed, fired, or from other employment decisions based on disabilities covered by the law. 

Butterball, LLC Sued by EEOC for Harassment, Firing of HIV+ Employee
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Should you Reveal a Disability in your Job Search?

 

The ADA prohibits employers from asking job candidates any medical questions, and the consensus among legal experts in this field is that you're under no obligation to bring up the subject in an interview, unless you have reason to believe it could affect your ability to do your job. Since you managed to work around your condition in your last job, do you think you could do the same in a new position? ADA requires employers to make a 'reasonable accommodation' for people with disabilities but if you really believe you could not perform the job at a high level, then it would probably be better to not apply for the job in the first place. To decide this you must understand exactly what the job will entail. Ask for as many details about the daily routine as possible. Then, figure out what kinds of "reasonable accommodations" might be possible. If, for instance, it would help to be able to work from home occasionally, you can ask about that in an interview without going into detail about why you want to know. Look for employers with flexibility and focus on your abilities, not your disability. Remember, your employer cannot make reasonable accommodations if they are unaware of your situation. Ernst & Young has written a free online guidebook about this as a PDF here.

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

Should you Reveal a Disability in your Job Search?
Deaf News Today
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:26:00 GMT

NCD Statement on the 19th Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities - December 3

 

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has issued a statement on the 19th observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is on December 3, 2011. This year’s theme is "Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development." The World Health Organization estimates that 15 percent of the world's population has a disability with 80 percent live n developing nations. The NCD urges more workable solutions to help people with disabilities around the globe.

NCD Statement on the 19th Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities - December 3
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NCD Report Examines How to Improve Access to Critical Services for USMC Family Members with Disabilities

 

The National Council on Disability (NCD) has released a report that looks at the challenges of Marines with "Exceptional Family Members (EFM)," or family members with disabilities. The report, United States Marine Corps Exceptional Family Members: How to Improve Access to Health Care, Special Education, and Long-term Supports and Services for Family Members with Disabilities, shows that access to health care, special education and other supports for these families needs to be improved. This information is also in PDF format.

NCD Report Examines How to Improve Access to Critical Services for USMC Family Members with Disabilities
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Disability Groups Urge Feds To Decide On Community Living

 

Months after the end of a public comment period, advocates are pressuring Medicaid to make a final decision on new rules that would define what qualifies as community-based housing.

Disability Groups Urge Feds To Decide On Community Living
Michelle Diament
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:22:06 GMT

Disability Programs In Limbo Following Supercommittee Collapse

 

The collapse of Congress' supercommittee last week could lead to mandatory cuts among several federal programs benefiting people with disabilities, advocates say.

Disability Programs In Limbo Following Supercommittee Collapse
Michelle Diament
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:25:11 GMT

Dodge's Chicken to Pay $190,000 after Firing Employee with Seizures

 

D&H Company, Dodge Brothers, Inc., and Giant Oil Company of Arkansas, Inc., doing business as Savings Station Dodge Stores and Dodge’s Chicken Store, will pay $190,000 to settle a disability lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The companies denied a store leader a reasonable accommodation for her seizures. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must provide reasonable accommodations to an employee with a disability, unless it causes significant difficulty or expense for the employer.

Dodge's Chicken to Pay $190,000 after Firing Employee with Seizures
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Census: 1 In 20 Kids Have A Disability

 

About 5 percent of school-age children in the United States have a disability, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Census: 1 In 20 Kids Have A Disability
Michelle Diament
Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:21:07 GMT

Librarian Sues for Discrimination

 

Merrie Sager is suing Huntington Beach, California for firing her after 32 years on the job. The deaf woman says she was dismissed from her job as a library clerk because of discrimination. The city claims she threw a book and yelled during work and is a threat to others. Sager explains the incident by saying she was upset that she was no longer allowed to help a volunteer with a task that she had done for years. According to the lawsuit, a new library manager failed to provide an interpreter at staff meetings as a previous manager did and there was a lack of written communication.

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

Librarian Sues for Discrimination
Deaf News Today
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:13:00 GMT

Journal Disposition Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

 

Journal Disposition, a full-service print, manufacturing and distribution company in Michigan settled a disability discrimination suit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for $55,000. The company fired a long-time employee who had cancer, after denying his request for accommodations during his chemotherapy treatments. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers must provide reasonable accommodations to an employee with a disability, unless it causes significant difficulty or expense for the employer.

Journal Disposition Settles EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Injunction Entered against AutoZone Requiring Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities

 

A federal court has ordered AutoZone, Inc. to reasonably accommodate its employees with disabilities in a disability discrimination suit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). AutoZone violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when it failed to accommodate an employee with a disability who was required to perform cleaning tasks that violated his medical restrictions. Under the ADA, employers must provide reasonable accommodations to an employee with a disability, unless it causes significant difficulty or expense for the employer.

Injunction Entered against AutoZone Requiring Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
disability@dol.gov (Disability.gov)
Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Theater Captioning Deal Approved

 

A federal court has signed off on a deal to settle a lawsuit over captioning at Arizona's largest movie theater chain. Harkins Theatres announced the deal last month and was just waiting for court approval. Part of the deal includes Harkins giving away 1000 free passes to movie-goers who are deaf, hard of hearing or visually impaired. The company operates 25 theaters in Arizona and says the installation will be completed by next summer. Harkins has also agreed to pay the legal costs of the the Center for Disability Law ($24,000).

Read More at DeafNewsToday.com

Theater Captioning Deal Approved
Deaf News Today
Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:45:00 GMT