FedEx Ground Settles for $3.3 Million in Discrimination Lawsuit, EEOC Says
May 19 2020 - 1:25PM
Dow Jones News
By Dave Sebastian
FedEx Corp.'s ground-delivery arm will pay the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission $3.3 million to settle a disability
discrimination lawsuit alleging the company denied deaf and
hard-of-hearing package handlers reasonable accommodations, the
commission said.
The EEOC said FedEx Ground also discriminated against deaf and
hard-of-hearing applicants for package-handler jobs. Package
handlers load, unload, scan and route packages at FedEx's
distribution centers.
FedEx said it denies the EEOC's allegations.
"FedEx Ground remains committed to the fair and equal treatment
of all team members, including our deaf and hard-of-hearing
employees, for whom we strive to provide every opportunity for
success," the company said. "We are pleased to put this litigation
behind us as we continue to provide essential services to our
customers and communities."
Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for
disabled individuals to enable them to perform essential parts of
their jobs and to have equal employment benefits and privileges,
according to the EEOC, citing the American with Disabilities
Act.
As part of the settlement, 229 individuals could receive
payment, and FedEx Ground must provide deaf and hard-of-hearing
package handlers with American Sign Language interpreting,
captioned videos and scanning equipment with non-audible cues such
as vibration, the EEOC said.
FedEx Ground will also equip tuggers, forklifts and similar
motorized equipment with visual warning lights and provide personal
notification devices to deaf package handlers for emergencies, the
EEOC said.
The company will train managers and human-resources
representatives on ADA compliance and create written guides for
identifying and providing accommodations for the package handlers,
the EEOC said.
The commission said a FedEx Ground vice president will oversee
the company's implementation of the two-year consent decree and
reporting to the EEOC.
Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 19, 2020 13:10 ET (17:10 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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