EEOC vs. Ford Ruling Good News for Employers

A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals is a big win for employers. A disability discrimination lawsuit was brought against Ford Motor Company by the EEOC claiming that the automaker should have allowed an employee to telecommute due to an illness, even though the job duties could not easily be done from a remote location. The Court overturned an earlier decision by a three-judge panel on the Sixth Circuit citing that regular, on-site attendance is necessary to be “qualified” for jobs requiring team work and interactive behaviors.

Employers should take note that Ford did work over a long period of time to try to accommodate the employee, but were unsuccessful in finding a compatible accommodation that would work for the employee and the fulfillment of job duties.

For more on this ruling and what it means for employers, please click here.