Employers in Chaska, Minnesota are required by law to provide reasonable accommodations to their employees who have disabilities. These disabilities can range from minor to major and include physical, medical, psychiatric and other types of disabilities.
A woman with Type II diabetes says she was discriminated against because of her medical condition. While she was at work in a drugstore in 2008, the woman suffered a hypoglycemic attack that was so bad she could not speak. In an effort to return her blood sugar level to normal, she grabbed a bag of chips and ate them before paying for them. Even though the chips were only $1.39, and the woman planned to pay for them after she had recovered, she was fired from her job on the grounds of theft.
The woman had worked for the company for 18 years prior to the incident with no record of any disciplinary action taken against her. The company had known for 13 years that she suffered from diabetes.
The woman filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against the company. Her lawyers said that because her employer did not provide reasonable accommodation for her during her hypoglycemic attack, the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. The company agreed to settle the lawsuit and pay the woman $180,000.
If you have been discriminated against in the workplace because of your disability, you may wish to consult with a lawyer who has experience working in employment law. An attorney can go over your case with you and help you determine your best course of action.
Source: CBS SF Bay Area, “Walgreens To Pay $180K To Settle Disability Discrimination Suit Filed By South San Francisco Woman,” July 2, 2014