DISH Network Pays $1.25M to Resolve Disability Discrimination Allegations Related to Online Applications

DISH Network LLC will pay $1.25M to resolve a discrimination charge alleging that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in its online job application process, apparently by failing to provide reasonable accommodations. In addition to the monetary relief, DISH Network has agreed that job applications will continue to contain a prominent statement about the company’s willingness to provide required reasonable accommodations, including directions on how to request those accommodations during the application process. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stressed that real world anti-discrimination protections also apply to the virtual world. "Employers must ensure that all individuals with disabilities are given an opportunity to request an accommodation, even during the online application process," said EEOC District Director Elizabeth Cadle. "Employers should know that the EEOC has the same expectations of employers operating in the virtual world as in the real world."