Photo Credit: Mike Mozart, Creative Commons 2.0
Hardware giant Lowe’s recently agreed to pay out over $8 million to settle a case in which it was accused of having implemented discriminatory practices with relation to its sick leave policies.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accused Lowe’s of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act with its policy of terminating the employment of those employees who exceeded the company’s 180 to 240-day maximum for medical leave. The case stems from three lawsuits filed by former employees who were not granted additional medical leave between 2007 and 2010.
As part of the settlement, which was issued in a consent decree and approved by U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte, Lowe’s will have to improve employee training and allow independent consultants to keep an eye on the company’s medical leave protocols, among other remedies.
Though Lowe’s agreed to the decree, which lasts for four years, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
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