Wal-Mart Settles Age and Disability Discrimination Case Brought Against It
The ex-manager of a Keller, Texas Wal-Mart will be receiving a $150,000 settlement along with other significant relief after Wal-Mart Stores of Texas, L.L.C. agreed to settle an disability and age discrimination lawsuit brought against it by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The ex-manager allegedly suffered frequent taunting and ridicule from his supervisor, who called him names like “old man” and “old food guy.” Verbal harassment on the basis of age is illegal under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which outlaws discrimination against anyone above the age of 40.
The employee was also diabetic, a fact that his legal representation asserted was not accommodated by Wal-Mart. Upon his diabetes diagnosis, the employee requested reassignment to a store co-manager or assistant manager position, but Wal-Mart refused to even have the discussion with him before dismissing the request. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Wal-Mart is legally obligated to provide reasonable accommodation for any employee disabilities.
In addition to the hefty settlement for the employee who faced discrimination, Wal-Mart also agreed to provide training for current employees on the ADA and ADEA, including instruction on what behavior constitutes unlawful discrimination against disabled or older employees.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by your employer due to your age or your disability, you have several options to resolve the problem. A skilled employment law attorney can help you navigate the legal complexities of your issue to help ensure a fair outcome.
Atkerson Law – Dallas Employment Attorney
