Geisinger Health and two of its affiliates have reached a $450,000 settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve a federal lawsuit alleging systemic disability discrimination and retaliation. The agency’s complaint, which dates back to practices starting in January 2018, alleged that Geisinger maintained policies that denied reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, specifically those returning from medical leave. According to the EEOC, the health system required disabled workers to compete for their own or other vacant positions instead of providing reassignment as an accommodation, and in some cases, manipulated job postings to prevent these employees from securing work.
Under the terms of a two-year consent decree entered on February 17, Geisinger will implement significant policy changes in addition to the monetary payout. The healthcare provider is now required to modify its leave and reassignment policies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, provide comprehensive ADA training to all managers and staff, and submit regular reports to the EEOC regarding any employees terminated after medical leave. While the settlement brings a close to the multi-year legal battle, Geisinger has not admitted to any wrongdoing or liability as part of the agreement.