A former employee for Sears, Roebuck and Co. was injured on the job, took workers’ compensation leave, and later learned that he’d been terminated when his wife’s discount card was denied. That incident resulted in a lawsuit filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2004.
The suit accused the company of illegally firing a disabled worker and failing to make reasonable accommodations that would have allowed the injured service technician to return to work. In response, Sears Holdings Corp. has agreed to pay $6.2 to settle the lawsuit.
The three-year consent decree requires the company to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), amend its workers’ compensation leave policy, provide reports to the EEOC outlining its workers compensation practices, and train employees on the ADA.
Sears settles lawsuit with disabled former worker for $6.2M, Chicago Sun-Times, September 29, 2009
If you have been injured on the job, then contact a Massachusetts workers’ compensation lawyer to discuss your legal options.