Target Settles Disability Discrimination Lawsuit For $160K
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Target Corp. reached a settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regarding an employee with cerebral palsy who worked at an Orange County store.
Target will pay $160,000 to settle the case regarding Jeremy Schott, who was hired in 2002 as a part-time stocker. Schott was named "Target Hero of the Month" by 2003 and made a cart attendant at his request, according to the EEOC.
But Schott, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has limited intellectual functioning and a seizure disorder, took a medical leave in 2004 due to a seizure. His work hours were cut to as few as eight a week when he returned, according to the lawsuit filed in 2009.
His disabilities required that he be reminded to do things and that a job coach assist him at times with his duties and job-related meetings, according to the lawsuit. The EEOC says that even though Schott succeeded early on with help from a job coach and task reminders, Target later failed to ensure the presence of a coach during work-related and job performance meetings.
When attempts to reach a settlement failed, the parties entered into a three-year consent decree that requires Target to designate an American Disabilities Act coordinator at the corporate level and implement a companywide policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodations.
Target also agreed to train executive team leaders and lead employees on handling requests for disabled employees.
Target will also submit reports to the EEOC regarding certain complaints of disability discrimination within the corporate district encompassing the Orange County store.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
