Agency Commends Employer for Collaborative Efforts to Improve Policies and Practices for Accommodation of Employees With Disabilities
DENVER - The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) and Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., have entered into a settlement agreement to strengthen and improve the company's policies and practices for accommodation of employees with disabilities, the federal agency announced today. The settlement resolves nine charges of discrimination alleging that the company failed to properly accommodate employees with disabilities.
As part of the agreement, Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. will update its policies and procedures to improve accommodations provided to employees returning to work after disability-related absences. The company will also establish a dedicated accommodation and leave management team to provide assistance to its employees.
The agreement also provides monetary payments totaling $2.25 million to those individuals who filed charges of discrimination, and annual financial support to selected "non-profit entities dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities find and keep employment." The agreement was reached as part of the informal conciliation process which is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to foster early resolution of alleged violations without resorting to litigation.
"This is a strong agreement that will improve policies and practices for individuals with disabilities and sets an example for many employers to follow," said Victoria A. Lipnic, Acting Chair of the EEOC. "I commend Coca-Cola Refreshments USA and the EEOC staff in our Denver and Phoenix offices for bringing this matter to a successful resolution. I especially commend Coca-Cola Refreshments for agreeing to make the terms of this agreement public."
Phoenix District Director Elizabeth Cadle said, "The EEOC is committed to ensuring that people receive the full protections of the ADA and other civil rights laws, and we are pleased that Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. was willing to work with us to improve its ADA compliance practices. In doing so, we are confident that the company will be rewarded with retaining a dedicated and effective workforce."
Brian Sasadu, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc., added, "One of our guiding principles as an organization is to treat everyone with respect and fairness and create an inclusive work environment that values the contributions of everyone. We are pleased that we have been able to work collaboratively with the EEOC to strengthen our disability leave policies to reflect best practices from inside and outside our business system."
The EEOC's Denver Office is part of the agency's Phoenix District, which has jurisdiction over Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
Read this article on the EEOC's webpage here.