A Lesson in Accommodations

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently filed a lawsuit against an Oakland County Amazon delivery company and employment agency for its refusal to provide a sign language interpreter to a deaf job applicant. The deaf job applicant requested an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter for her first-day orientation, and in response, the company revoked her job offer. The EEOC filed its lawsuit, stating that the alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals unless doing so would cause an undue hardship.

Kenneth Bird, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, stated that “An employer cannot rescind a job offer because it learned a qualified candidate has a disability and needs an accommodation for orientation. Declining to hire someone to avoid providing a reasonable accommodation for that person’s disability is unlawful discrimination.”

As an employer, it is imperative to understand how to comply with disability laws. Contact us today at 248.477.6300 if your organization needs help ensuring legal compliance.