NEWS & ANALYSIS


Card Room Co.'s Absence Policy Flouted PWFA, EEOC Says

By Vin Gurrieri

A Florida poker room operator flouted the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act by enforcing a rigid attendance policy that pushed female staff who needed time off for pregnancy-related reasons out of their jobs, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged Tuesday.

Medical Center Ousted Worker Over Leg Injury, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

A New Mexico medical center illegally fired an employee after failing to find her a new role that would have better accommodated her leg injury that caused lasting damage, according to a suit the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed Tuesday.

Butterball Fired Worker Over Cancer Absences, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

Turkey producer Butterball fired an employee for missing shifts to attend chemotherapy appointments even though she requested medical leave to do so, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claimed in a suit filed in North Carolina federal court Tuesday.

Nursing Home Can't Dodge EEOC Pregnancy Bias Suit

By Patrick Hoff

A nursing and rehabilitation facility can't escape a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming it effectively fired an employee who requested light duty during her pregnancy, with a Maryland federal judge saying the company's dismissal bid was laden with errors.

EEOC Accuses Dispensary Of Rampant Sexual Harassment

By Vin Gurrieri

Male employees at an Illinois cannabis dispensary sexually harassed their female colleagues on a "near-daily" basis, which forced at least one woman to quit, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told a federal court Monday.

Security Co. Inflexibility Made Baptist Guard Quit, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

A security company refused to change a guard's work schedule after he raised concerns that it wouldn't allow him to attend church as a Baptist deacon, according to a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Friday.

General Motors Can't Get Early Win In EEOC Age Bias Suit

By Grace Elletson

An Indiana federal judge refused to let General Motors escape a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming the business unlawfully withheld disability pay from workers who received Social Security benefits, calling GM's argument that its policy hinged on benefit eligibility rather than age premature.

Kroger Fired Disabled Worker Over Need To Sit, EEOC Says

By Patrick Hoff

A Houston-area Kroger violated disability bias law by firing a cashier with nerve damage because she needed to sit and use a walker while on the job, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged in a lawsuit filed in Texas federal court.

EEOC Cuts $25K Deal With Miss. Restaurant In Sex Bias Suit

By Vin Gurrieri

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a breakfast restaurant in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, struck a $25,500 deal to end a sex discrimination suit alleging it fired a server because she was pregnant, according to a federal court filing.

Security Tech Co. Settles EEOC Hearing Bias Lawsuit

By Patrick Hoff

A security technology manufacturer has agreed to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit alleging it unlawfully demoted an employee with partial hearing loss because she asked for protective equipment, the commission told a Maryland federal court.

Waste Co. Strikes Deal In EEOC Hiring Discrimination Suit

By Grace Elletson

A waste management company has agreed to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit claiming the business refused to hire women as drivers, according to a Missouri federal court filing.

Calif. Winery To Pay $1.5M To End EEOC Sex Harassment Suit

By Patrick Hoff

A California winery will pay $1.49 million to resolve a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit claiming it failed to address the frequent harassment of female employees and retaliated against them when they complained, according to a federal court filing.

Jewish Worker's Time Off Need Got Him Demoted, EEOC Says

By Kelcey Caulder

Dolgencorp LLC, the operator of Dollar General stores, violated federal law by demoting a Jewish assistant store manager due to his efforts to secure time off to observe his Sabbath, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Tuesday.

Care Provider Unlawfully Spurned Deaf Applicant, EEOC Says

By Anne Cullen

A disability-focused healthcare provider based in Indianapolis violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by rejecting a candidate for a housekeeping role because he is deaf, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission told an Indiana federal court Tuesday.

Tech Firm To Pay $15M To End EEOC Probe Over Vax Policy

By Anne Cullen

A technology company has agreed to pay out $15 million to wrap up a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation into claims that its COVID-19 vaccine policy discriminated against religious workers and those with disabilities, the agency announced Tuesday.

Grocery Chain Limited Lactating Worker's Water, EEOC Says

By Grace Elletson

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission slapped a Midwestern grocery chain with a pregnancy discrimination suit in Wisconsin federal court Monday, claiming the business illegally refused to let a lactating mother have access to water at her workstation.

EEOC Seeks Info From Repair Co. In Hiring Bias Probe

By Vin Gurrieri

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has urged a Florida federal judge to force a home appliance repair company to turn over records as part of an agency investigation into whether its hiring practices were discriminatory.

Ill. Planned Parenthood Strikes Deal To End Feds' DEI Probe

By Grace Elletson

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday that Planned Parenthood of Illinois has agreed to pay $500,000 to end an agency investigation into claims that it discriminated against white employees through diversity, equity and inclusion trainings.

Auto Parts Co. Calls EEOC Info Demand 'Fishing Expedition'

By Patrick Hoff

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking far more information than necessary to investigate whether Napa Auto Parts discriminated against Black applicants, the company argued, urging a Texas federal court to pare down the agency's "scattershot" demands.

Pizza Hut Franchisee Cuts Deal In EEOC Sex Harassment Suit

By Grace Elletson

A Pizza Hut franchisee told a Texas federal judge Tuesday that it will pay $35,000 to end a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission suit alleging the business fired a manager for complaining that her boss sabotaged her store because she ended a romantic relationship with him.