Background
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed its first COVID-19-based lawsuit in the Atlanta Division of the Northern District Court of Georgia. The EEOC concluded that granting remote work for an employee is a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Summary
During the initial outbreak of the pandemic, ISS Facility Services, Inc (ISS), a provider of office maintenance and management services, allowed employees such as Ronisha Moncrief to work remotely. In June of 2020, as employees started to return to the workplace, Moncrief approached ISS management requesting she be allowed to continue working remotely due to an existing medical condition which put her at higher risk to contract COVID-19. ISS denied Moncrief’s request, even though the company continued to allow other employees working in the same position as Moncrief to work remotely. Shortly thereafter, Moncrief was terminated from her position with ISS.
ISS was found to be in violation of the ADA. The EEOC ruled that working remotely was a reasonable accommodation for Moncrief and her request should have been granted. ISS is now faced with back-pay requests, compensatory damages, punitive damages for Moncrief, and a sanction to prevent any future discrimination within the organization.
Employers Next Steps
- Engage in the Interactive Process to determine what your employee needs and identify reasonable accommodations when handling ADA accommodation requests.
- Be sure to thoroughly document all ADA-related requests within your organization.
- Review HRK’s Remote Workforce Planner to ensure your workforce is set up for success when working remotely.
- If you are a Full-Service or Virtual HR client and would like our assistance with updating your remote work policy, please email us.
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This content is provided with the understanding that HR Knowledge is not rendering legal advice. While every effort is made to provide current information, the law changes regularly and laws may vary depending on the state or municipality. The material is made available for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice or your professional judgment. You should review applicable laws in your jurisdiction and consult experienced counsel for legal advice. If you have any questions regarding this content, please contact HR Knowledge at 508.339.1300 or email us.
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