A former Target employee has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company alleging retaliation and wrongful termination. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the employee who previously suffered a traumatic brain injury said he was mistreated at work and fired in 2019 on the basis of his disability. The man was hired in September 2019 as a food and beverage employee at a Target store in Norwalk.
Discrimination Lawsuit Details
The former employee says in his lawsuit that during the interview process, he told the company about his traumatic brain injury. While working there, the man says he faced discrimination from his supervisor who compared him to employees who were working faster and had more experience. In addition, the man alleged that his boss often said in front of other people that his slower pace could lead to him being fired.
He was not offered potential solutions or reasonable accommodation for his disability, the complaint said. He was also not trained properly to perform his job duties. When he brought up these issues to a manager, the company did not take any action, he said. The lawsuit alleges that this type of behavior shows that Target had no interest in addressing the plaintiff's complaints of discrimination and harassment.
Instead, the suit says, they retaliated against the plaintiff by terminating his employment. He was fired for being slow at his work, the lawsuit alleges. Target has maintained that they prohibit discrimination and harassment and are committed to creating an "inclusive work environment."
Disability Discrimination Is A Nationwide Problem
Disability discrimination is when you are treated differently in the workplace because of your disability, perceived disability or association with a disabled person. Here are some common examples of disability discrimination in the workplace:
- Discriminating against an employee or job applicant based on a physical or mental disability with regard to recruitment, firing, hiring, training, job assignments, promotions, salary, benefits, etc.
- Harassing or mistreating an employee because of his or her disability.
- Creating or maintaining a workplace that puts people with disabilities at a significant disadvantage.
- Failing or refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation to employees with disabilities that would allow them to work.
If you have faced these types of discriminatory behaviors in the workplace, you may have suffered disability discrimination. There are federal and state laws that protect you from harassment, discrimination and retaliation based on your disability.
Employers Must Comply With 'Reasonable Accommodation' Laws
If you are able to perform all essential job duties except for those your disability prevents you from performing, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other state laws require that your employer provide you with what is known as a "reasonable accommodation." This is essentially an adjustment or modification provided by an employer to allow you to enjoy equal employment opportunities as individuals without disabilities.
For example, one accommodation may involve installing a wheelchair ramp so you are able to get around. Other examples of accommodations include modified work schedules, modifying equipment or devices such as providing a sign language interpreter for a hearing-impaired job candidate or providing braille reading material for a visually-impaired employee.
If you believe that your employer has discriminated against you or harassed you because of your disability, please contact an experienced Los Angeles disability discrimination lawyer to better understand your legal rights and options. You may be able to seek compensation for your monetary losses as well as your emotional suffering.
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