WERE THEY IN SHORT SUPPLY OF COMMON SENSE?
Tractor Supply Company, a Tennessee based “rural lifestyle retailer,” is alleged to have released an employee’s HIV status to coworkers and customers, “subjected her to a hostile work environment,” and then retaliated against her which she complained about the mistreatment.
Believing that such conducted violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit (EEOC v. Tractor Supply Company, Case No. 2:22-cv-00131-KS-MTP) in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief.
By way of a written press release, the EEOC recently announced that the parties had settled the disability and retaliations claims in exchange for a $75,000 payment to the impacted employee. Tractor Supply also agreed to “enhance” its policies and practices so that all of its employees are familiarized with governing law.
In a written statement, EEOC Birmingham District Director Bradley Anderson noted that “Employees should be able to trust that their employer will protect the privacy of their confidential medical information … They should also be able to work without being harassed because of their disability. That’s what the ADA requires, and the EEOC is committed to enforcing these important protections under the law.”
While Marsha Rucker, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Birmingham District, added, “Tractor Supply Company created and maintained a hostile work environment for this employee by publicizing her private medical information and then failing to address the harassment this generated. Rather than protect this employee from harassment, the company fired her. This is unlawful under the ADA, and the EEOC will hold an employer accountable when it violates this crucial federal law."
Looks like they tractored themselves out of that mess.