Obesity As A Protected Disability At Workplace In California

Even though, generally being overweight is not considered a workplace disability, under ADA or FEHA (California Fair Employment and Housing Act), in some cases an obesity can be a protected disability. In Cassista v. Community Foods, Inc. (1993) 5 Cal.4th 1050, 1052, the California Supreme Court held “that weight may qualify as a protected ‘handicap’ or Read More …

EEOC Files Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Against Hershey Company

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced filing a lawsuit on July 19, 2017 against the Hershey Company for allegedly refusing to accommodate a disability and later firing a disabled employee. “Employers cannot ignore a request for a reasonable accommodation from an employee with a disability,” said Nancy Sienko, director of the EEOC’s Seattle Read More …

EEOC Sues Truck Company For ADA Disability Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit on Nov. 30, 2017 against Stevens Transport, a refrigerated trucking company, for allegedly violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to the EEOC, the company told a potential hire Bill Brown that they could not hire him due to a company policy that prevented the hiring of people with Read More …

Total Disability And Your Disability Discrimination Case

Suppose you have been fired from your job while being on disability leave because of your serious medical condition. Around the time of your termination or shortly after  you are certified as totally disabled – i.e. unable to perform any job indefinitely or forever. Let’s assume that you can prove that the reason for your Read More …

Preferential Reassignment As A Disability Accommodation in California

One type of an accommodation that an employee with a qualifying disability in California may be entitled to is preferential reassignment to a different position that would accommodate that disability. This right has a tendency to “collide” with the employer’s rights with regard to disabled workers. Under the same law, the employers don’t have to Read More …