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Press Release 09-29-2023

Lori’s Gifts Sued by EEOC for Disability Discrimination

Federal Agency Charges Hospital Gift Shop Operator Makes Unlawful Pre-Employment Inquiries, Discriminates Against Persons With Disabilities in Hiring

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lori’s Gifts, Inc., a nationwide chain of hospital gift shops with a location at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware, Ohio, violated federal law by making unlawful disability-related inquiries and discriminating against persons with disabilities in its application and hiring processes, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it announced today.

According to EEOC’s lawsuit, Lori’s Gifts subjected applicants to discriminatory qualification standards and asked unlawful pre-employment inquiries, including whether applicants can walk or stand for up to five hours and if applicants can lift up to 30 pounds. Applicants who answer “No” to either question are deemed not to be qualified for employment and are rejected.

Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination, retaliation and interference with rights secured by the ADA. The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (EEOC v. Lori’s Gifts, Inc., Case No. 2:23-cv-03175-CMV), after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

“Employers that engage in discriminatory hiring practices must be held accountable,” said Philadelphia District Office Regional Attorney Debra Lawrence. “The EEOC is committed to enforcing the rights and protections secured by the ADA.”

For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination.

The EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. The legal staff of EEOC also prosecutes discrim­ination cases in Washington, D.C., and parts of Virginia.

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.