Employer Said Employee with Asperger’s Syndrome was “Special"

Masterbuilt Manufacturing recently reached a $60,000 settlement to resolve a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The lawsuit alleged that a Masterbuilt employee who had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome requested a short leave of absence as a reasonable accommodation, because he needed treatment and counseling for stress related to his disability.  On multiple occasions, the employee complained that his supervisor’s conduct was inappropriate, including comments that she made about the employee referring to him as “special.”  Masterbuilt later fired the employee while he was on leave related to his disability, even though he had been cleared to return to work and had requested that Masterbuilt permit him to return.  The alleged conduct is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which protects disabled employees from workplace discrimination related to an employee’s disability.  See EEOC v. Masterbuilt Manufacturing, LLC, No. 4:19-cv-00052 (M.D. Ga.).