Restroom Breaks are a Reasonable Accommodation for a Disability

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission settled a case against a supplier of automotive parts, Hiatchi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., in which the EEOC had alleged that the company refused to provide one of its employees with a reasonable accommodation.  The EEOC’s lawsuit claimed that one of Hitchahi’s assembly operators required frequent restroom breaks due to a medical condition from which she suffered.  The employee went through a probationary period with the company and received a good evaluation, which led to a permanent offer from Hitachi.  Around this time, the employee requested the reasonable accommodation of additional restroom breaks (beyond the lunch break and 15-minute breaks that employees were allowed).  Instead of granting the reasonable accommodation, Hitachi rescinded its permanent job offer.  This alleged conduct is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against employees who suffer from a disability.  See EEOC v. Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas, Inc., No. 1:19-cv-03887 (N.D. Ga.).