From the National Law Journal (free registration):

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is stepping up its enforcement efforts on disability discrimination claims, and Kmart is the latest major employer to be hit with a federal lawsuit. In a suit filed in Virginia last week, the EEOC alleged that the retail giant fired a greeter because he needed to use a cane on the job.

According to EEOC figures, disability bias complaints are rising steeply, with 19,453 recorded in 2008 — a 10% increase from the year before and the highest number in 14 years.

“It is unfortunate that many employers still deny people who are ready and able the opportunity to work simply because of a disability. The EEOC will continue to fight for the rights of people victimized by such prejudices,” said Herbert Brown, director of the EEOC’s Norfolk, Va., office.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 10:09 am and is filed under discrimination, employment/jobs, law. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.