[nfbmi-talk] On the Barricades: A Victory for Civil Rights for the Blind Fortunate Enough to Land a Job

[Terry D. Eagle]

Bank of America to pay vision-impaired temp $110,000

Bank of America to pay vision-impaired temp $110,000

December 22 2014

Bank of America will pay $110,000 to a former temporary worker to resolve a
disability discrimination case brought by the US Equal Employment
Opportunity
Commission, the federal agency announced.

 

According to the EEOC's suit, Bank of America violated the Americans with
Disabilities Act when it failed to accommodate a visually impaired data
entry
worker and instead terminated his temporary assignment at one of the bank's
branches in downtown Chicago after one day on the job.

 

In addition to monetary relief for the former employee, the decree includes
an injunction requiring the bank provide reasonable accommodations to
temporary
and contingent workers at its branches throughout Illinois, provides for
training about the ADA's requirements and imposes recordkeeping and
reporting
requirements for the duration of the decree.

 

The EEOC filed the suit in 2011, after first attempting to reach a
pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. US District
Judge Milton
Shadur entered the decree resolving the suit Dec. 18.
 

"Of the millions of working-age Americans with vision loss, research has
shown that fewer than half are employed. An employer of the size and
sophistication
of Bank of America, which employs an enormous number of people working at
computer terminals, ought to be a national leader in employing individuals
with
disabilities, including vision loss, and a leader in ADA compliance
generally," said John Hendrickson, EEOC Chicago district regional attorney.
"We're
optimistic that this consent decree is going to prompt that kind of progress
at Bank of America, not only because it's the law, but also because it's the
right thing to do."

Source:

http://www.staffingindustry.com/Research-Publications/Daily-News/Bank-of-Ame
rica-to-pay-vision-impaired-temp-110-000-32611