Medical Facility to pay $165K to Settle Associational Disability Discrimination Claim
September 06, 2016
A company that owns and operates a medical facility in New Mexico will pay $165,000 to settle an EEOC lawsuit alleging associational disability discrimination. The Company allegedly violated the ADA when it fired a temporary staffing agency employee and failed to hire her for a full-time position because of her relationship with her then three-year old daughter, who had disabilities or was regarded as disabled. "The ADA specifically prohibits discrimination against mothers, fathers, caregivers, family members or others who are associated with persons with disabilities," said the EEOC. "Employers, especially those employers in medical fields, should be careful to provide employment opportunities based solely on the qualifications of the employee or applicant and not impermissible factors such as their association with an individual with a disability."