Disability discrimination is prohibited under federal law in Ohio and in the rest of the nation. Despite the prohibition, many companies engage in unlawful discrimination against employees based on their disabilities. A lawsuit was recently filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a Walmart in Washington, D.C. because the store reportedly failed to provide reasonable accommodations to deaf workers.
According to the lawsuit, the Walmart failed to offer its deaf employees communication accommodations such as sign language interpreters. This prevented the workers from being able to participate in meetings at their jobs.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers are supposed to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees. The accommodations that are offered do not have to be the same ones that are requested by the workers. However, as long as a reasonable accommodation doesn’t place an undue burden on an employer, the employer must provide it. The EEOC states that employers must offer communication accommodations to deaf employees so that they are able to participate in meetings and communicate with their co-workers and supervisors.
People who believe that their employers have failed to provide reasonable accommodations to them for their disabling conditions might want to talk to experienced employment law attorneys. The lawyers might explain the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and analyze whether the employers’ actions violated the law. If the actions appear to be discriminatory in nature, the attorneys may assist their clients with filing discrimination charges with the EEOC. In some cases, the EEOC will issue notices that people have the right to file lawsuits. If that happens, the attorneys may file the complaints on behalf of their clients in the appropriate federal or state court.
Source: HR Dive, “EEOC alleges DC Walmart failed to accommodate deaf employees,” Lisa Burden, June 19, 2018.