BALTIMORE – Verizon Maryland, LLC, will pay $115,000 and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, a management employee who suffered from hypertension asked his manager for a change to a field position or to an alternate management position to accommodate his disability. There was an opening for a field position which the employee previously held, but Verizon did not allow him to compete for that position, telling him he would have to resign and reapply for the position in six months. The company offered no other accommodation, was not offered opportunities to compete for other vacant management positions, and the employee was forced to quit due to medical necessity, the suit said. Such alleged conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on disability. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division, Case No. 23cv-02428-MJM, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.In addition to the $115,000 in monetary relief to the former manager, the 30-month consent decree resolving the suit prevents the company from offering resignation and reapplication as an accommodation under the ADA. Further, the company must provide training on the ADA, including a specific statement that resignation and reapplication is not a reasonable accommodation. The company will also report to the EEOC on how it handles any future disability discrimination complaints.“The concept of reasonable accommodation is to keep the employee working,” said EEOC Baltimore Field Office Director Rosemarie Rhodes. “Verizon simply did the opposite.” EEOC Regional Attorney Debra M. Lawrence added, “This consent decree should send a clear message that inviting an employee to resign and then reapply for work six months later can never be a reasonable accommodation.” The EEOC’s Baltimore Field Office is one of four offices in the EEOC Philadelphia District Office, which has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. Attorneys in the EEOC Philadelphia District Office also prosecute discrimination cases in Washington, D.C. and parts of Virginia.For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discriminationThe EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.
Brief
"On 08/11/2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued an update regarding Verizon Maryland to Pay $115,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit. The settlement resolves a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC against Verizon Maryland, LLC. The company agreed to pay $115,000 and provide significant remedial relief, including training on the Americans with Disabilities Act."
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Purpose:
Verizon Maryland, LLC has agreed to pay $115,000 and provide significant remedial relief to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Effects on Industry:
This settlement highlights the importance of providing reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities in the workplace. The EEOC’s actions demonstrate that employers must take proactive steps to prevent discrimination against individuals with disabilities. This decision may also serve as a warning to other companies, emphasizing the need to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide adequate accommodations to avoid similar lawsuits.
Relevant Stakeholders:
The relevant stakeholders in this case include Verizon Maryland, LLC, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the former employee who suffered from hypertension. The EEOC’s actions aim to protect employees with disabilities from discriminatory practices and ensure that employers provide reasonable accommodations to maintain a inclusive work environment.
Next Steps:
To comply with the settlement, Verizon Maryland, LLC must implement the following measures:
- Provide training on the ADA, including a specific statement that resignation and reapplication is not a reasonable accommodation
- Report to the EEOC on how it handles any future disability discrimination complaints
- Furnish significant remedial relief to the former employee, which may include compensation for lost wages or other benefits
Any Other Relevant Information:
The consent decree resolving this case prohibits Verizon Maryland, LLC from offering resignation and reapplication as an accommodation under the ADA. The company must also provide training on the ADA and report to the EEOC on its handling of future disability discrimination complaints. This settlement serves as a reminder that employers must take proactive steps to prevent discriminatory practices against employees with disabilities.
