Workplace Discrimination: Interpreter to Back Room
Jessica Chrysler was hired to work as a photographer in The Picture People, Inc. studio in Littleton, Colorado, and then terminated without just cause. The Picture People staff denied her repeated requests for an American Sign Language interpreter to assist her at mandatory meetings. Jessica also stated that managers picked on her and forced her to work in the back of the store. Eventually, they cut her hours completely.
EEOC Fights Workplace Discrimination
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit charges the studio chain with failure to make reasonable accommodations, providing a hostile work environment, and wrongful discharge.
An attorney for the EEOC commented that it’s not uncommon for employers to underestimate their deaf employee’s ability to work with customers.
“Here, the employer not only failed to engage in a dialogue regarding a reasonable accommodation, it compounded the offense when it retaliated against the disabled employee for complaining of discrimination,” said Mary Jo O’Neill, an EEOC regional attorney whose jurisdiction includes Colorado.
The EEOC’s Denver field office director was also critical of employers such as The Picture People.
“It is unfortunate whenever able employees such as Ms. Chrysler get short shrift just because an employer is unwilling take reasonable steps to accommodate their disability,” Nancy Sienko stated. “It’s prejudice plain and simple. It’s illegal and it’s a bad business practice.”
The lawsuit is one of many that are pending in the court system because of workplace discrimination. If you feel you’ve been discriminated against or are facing possible discriminatory issues with employers, the EEOC is the first place to go. Be aware that filing with the EEOC itself is not that same as filing a lawsuit; the EEOC has the discretion to decide whether or not it will file a lawsuit on your behalf.
