The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reached a resolution with Maryland-based MedStar Health and MedStar Ambulatory Services for charges filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it was announced this week.
The resolution—reached through the agency’s conciliation process—settled claims that the healthcare service providers' attendance policies failed to meet employees’ rights protected under the ADA.
"We encourage all employers to review their policies and procedures, including attendance policies, to ensure that they provide for reasonable accommodations and equal opportunities for people with disabilities," EEOC Baltimore Field Office Director Rosemarie Rhodes said in a statement.
Neither employer admitted to any violation of the statute as part of the resolution. However, MedStar agreed to revise attendance policies to accommodate employees with disabilities, specifically stating that exceptions to the attendance policies will be made when required by the ADA as a reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities. They also agreed to disseminate the revised policies to all employees. In addition, MedStar Ambulatory Services will conduct trainings for all supervisory and human resources employees.
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“At MedStar Health and MedStar Ambulatory Services, we respect and value all our associates," said a spokesperson for MedStar Health in a statement. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to resolve the concerns of all parties involved.”
The ADA requires reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities and prohibits discrimination based on disability. Addressing inflexible leave policies that discriminate is one of six national priorities identified by the agency’s task force.