Circle K Stores, Inc., accused of systematically denying accommodations to pregnant workers and employees with disabilities, is paying $8 million to settle those charges, thus avoiding litigation. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the convenience store giant violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act when it subjected pregnant employees and those with disabilities to actions such as involuntary unpaid leave, retaliation, and termination.
In addition to the monetary settlement, Circle K will also be required to update its policies, conduct anti-discrimination training for all employees, and include compliance with EEO laws as a factor in performance evaluations of managers.
What would a respectful employer do?
The best employers keep their policies up to date, provide regular training, and make decisions based on their corporate values and the law. In other words, they do voluntarily, as a matter of sound business and ethics, what Circle K now must do after a nationwide federal investigation.
Managers and supervisors must be aware of worker rights and be prepared to discuss reasonable accommodations. Our Managing Within the Law courses—newly revised to include more coverage of leaves of absence and accommodations–provide employment law training for managers and executives both in-person and online.
To find out more about our 2023-2024 training programs or to book a workshop, please call 800-458-2778 or send us an email.
Information here is correct at the time it is posted. Case decisions cited here may be reversed. Please do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney first.
