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One of the most prevalent forms of discrimination concerns disability, something that afflicts employees and applicants who wish to be part of the labor sector and help the ailing United States economy. One of the agencies these days that is tasked to handle such concerns is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
One case that is recently published through the EEOC website involves the company RCC Consultants Inc., a telecommunications engineering and consulting company with offices around the globe. According to the EEOC, the said company has agreed to pay $45,000.00 as settlement after it received a disability discrimination lawsuit from the EEOC.
Case records show that Stanton Woodcock was not hired for a managing consultant position because of his disability called ocular albinism, which is a hereditary condition. His eyes lack melanin pigment, which limits his vision.
He was offered the position on October 17, 2007 but some days afterwards when the RCC found out that Woodcock could not drive, the company pulled out the job offer.
Incidentally, the said act was deemed illegal under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Under the ADA, a qualified applicant should never be maltreated because of his or her disability within the following establishments:
• Transportation
• Telecommunications
• Local and state government services
• Public accommodations
Disability, on the other hand, is defined by the ADA as the physical or mental impairment that limits major life activities. Accordingly, some of the major life activities that should be influenced by the disability include:
• Sight
• Speech
• Sense of hearing
• Breathing
• Performance of manual tasks
• Caring for self
• Learning
• Working
Most of the time, disability bias cases happen in populous areas where there are a lot of industries, such as Los Angeles in California. If an employee is currently facing a similar problem to that of Woodcock, he or she may file a complaint at the EEOC office through the help of some Los Angeles employment lawyers They will ensure that their client’s rights are well addressed, and the ailing company is penalized for its wrongful deeds.
