EEOC and Lifewell Living Center, LLC Conciliate Disability Charge

 ALBUQUERQUE - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and LifeWell Living Center, LLC have reached a voluntary conciliation agreement to resolve allegations of disability discrim­ination raised by a former employee, the federal agency said today.

Following an investigation by the Albuquerque EEOC office, the EEOC found it was probable that The Legacy at Santa Fe violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to accommodate the Complainant's requests for a reasonable accommodation and then terminated her employment because she requested a reasonable accommodation.

LifeWell Living Center, LLC agreed to enter into a two-year conciliation agreement with the EEOC by paying $100,000 to compensate the complainant. In addition to the monetary settlement, LifeWell Living Center, LLC has agreed to make changes in its drug-testing examinations to include a review process with designated medical review officers and human resource personnel who will engage in the interactive process with the applicants and/or employees and provide ADA training for all supervisory, management, human resources and executive employees (including newly assigned), and all non-management employees (including new hires).

"As we approach the 30th anniversary of the ADA, we want to remind employers about the proactive value of training employees on the interactive process and reasonable accommodations," said Elizabeth Cadle, district director for the Phoenix District Office. "We commend LifeWell Living Center, LLC for working with EEOC toward this positive resolution."

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.