Washington State Department of Transportation Settles Disability Discrimination Complaint Filed With EEOC

SEATTLE – The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has agreed to pay $57,577 in compensatory damages and back pay and provide other injunctive relief following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

In the charge, a former employee alleged that he was terminated five days after disclosing his disability and discussing a potential need for a related accommodation with his employer. The EEOC’s investigation found reasonable cause to believe that WSDOT’s decision to discharge was motivated by knowledge of the employee’s disability and belief he would need future accommodations.

Such alleged conduct is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on a disability and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities.

Following the investigation, the parties engaged in the pre-litigation conciliation process, which resulted in a settlement, requiring WSDOT to pay monetary damages to their former employee; create a procedure for applicants and employees to request accommodations for a disability; implement mandatory training for management and human resources staff; and conduct training to inform non-supervisor employees of their rights.

“The EEOC will rigorously pursue justice on behalf of individuals with disabilities,” said Elizabeth M. Cannon, director of the EEOC’s Seattle Field Office. “Employers who make employment decisions based on stereotypes and assumptions about disabilities are violating the rights of workers and risk enforcement action and potential litigation.”

For information about disability discrimination in the workplace, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc-disability-related-resources.

The Washington State Department of Transportation is a state governmental agency that stewards transportation systems throughout Washington.

The EEOC’s Seattle Field Office has jurisdiction over Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. 

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.