Television station owner Sinclair has agreed to pay $85,000 in back pay and damages to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The Baltimore Sun reports the broadcaster suspended then fired a help desk technician who worked at a Cockeysville office after learning she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, the federal agency said Thursday in a news release.
The EEOC filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore after failing to reach a pre-litigation settlement. The agency said the alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits disability discrimination and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations.
A consent decree settling the lawsuit requires the company to recompense back pay and compensatory damages, the agency said. It also calls for a process to monitor, report and review future disability discrimination complaints.
Sinclair also will be required to provide training to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the EEOC said.