Employers Should Provide Reasonable Accommodations for Short-Term Disability Leave

RockTenn, a paper company, reportedly has agreed to pay $187,500 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The lawsuit alleged that RockTenn fired an employee because of his disability during his approved short-term-disability leave.  The employee underwent coronary bypass surgery in January 2011 and was given leave through the middle of April 2011.  His doctor cleared him to return March 21, 2011, before his initially scheduled return to work date.  The employee let RockTenn know that he planned to return on March 21st.  Despite this, RockTenn terminated him on March 10, 2011.  The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits an employer from discriminating against employees because of a disability.  See EEOC v. RockTenn Co. & RockTenn Services, Inc., No. 1:14-cv-00973 (W.D. Mich.).