In a consequential turn, Munster Medical Research Foundation, Inc.—conducting business as Community Hospital—has agreed to pay $158,000 to settle a lawsuit brought forward by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In addition to the monetary settlement, the hospital has agreed to rehire the affected nurse and institute changes to existing policies. Details can be found in the official report from JD Supra.
This landmark lawsuit was filed by the EEOC after the hospital allegedly failed to make reasonable job adjustments for an injured nurse, resulting instead in her termination. The federal agency maintains that these actions are indicative of disability discrimination, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The United States’ ADA necessitates for employers to offer reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities, enabling them to perform integral functions of their role. In the event that an employee cannot continue their existing role, even with accommodations, the ADA states it is incumbent on employers to consider transferring the employee to a vacant position which they could perform, rather than oust them from employment.
In this particular case, the aforementioned transfer option was not given to the injured nurse, leading to her wrongful termination. The hospital’s settlement includes rehiring the nurse—an act which emphasizes the severity of violating terms of the ADA and highlights the importance of equal opportunity employment laws.
To prevent future occurrences, the hospital has also agreed to alterations in their current policies, going beyond the extent of financial settlement. This commitment to change represents an acknowledgement of the necessity for a pragmatic approach to meeting the needs of disabled employees, as well as ensuring compliance with the federal law.