Employment
Employment News
Starbucks to Pay $80K in Arkansas Disability Discrimination Suit
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Starbucks store in Russellville, Ark., will pay $80,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced on June 15th.
The EEOC's suit, (Civil Action No. 4:09-CV-0715-BSM, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, at Little Rock), charged that Starbucks failed to hire Chuck Hannay because of his multiple sclerosis. According to the EEOC, Hannay applied for one of six open barista positions but was never contacted for an interview. EEOC alleged that individuals with less experience and availability were hired instead of Hannay.
Such conduct violates the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on a person's disability.
In addition to the monetary relief, the consent decree settling the suit, approved by U.S. District Judge Brian Miller, enjoins Starbucks from discriminating on the bases of disability and retaliation. Further, the decree requires the company to provide training to its managers and assistant managers on disability discrimination, to submit two reports to the EEOC on the training and any such complaints, and to post a notice reinforcing the company's policies on the ADA. Starbucks will also make a good-faith effort to hire individuals with disabilities at its Russellville location by notifying Arkansas Rehabilitation Services of all job openings.
"People with disabilities should have equal opportunities for employment," said Regional Attorney Faye A. Williams of the EEOC's Memphis District Office, which has jurisdiction over Arkansas, Tennessee and certain counties in Mississippi. "This case demonstrates the EEOC's commitment to combating discrimination that prevents individuals with disabilities from taking their rightful place in the work force."
Pamela Dixon, EEOC trial attorney, said, "We commend Starbucks for working in a cooperative manner with the EEOC to quickly resolve the lawsuit and for instituting provisions in the workplace to prevent such conduct in the future."
Starbucks is an international coffee company based in Seattle, Wash. According to company information, there are over 16,000 Starbucks locations in 49 countries.
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the Commission is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.
Arkansas Disability Employment Conference
The EmployAbility Project and Arkansas APSE are sponsoring the Arkansas Disability Employment Conference for individuals with disabilities. This conference will be a wonderful opportunity to learn, network, and grow professionally. The conference begins with the first keynote speaker at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10th and finishes at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 11th, and will be held at the Arlington Hotel in downtown Hot Springs. For more information, download the two-page conference flyer, attendee and exhibitor registration forms, and hotel information from our web site at:
http://www.arkdisabilityrights.org/bin/2010ADEC.pdf
Assessment - A Quick Reference Guide
The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth has developed this resource which describes formal and informal assessments, standardized testing and the process of collecting information that can be used in decision-making, career-planning and service plan development for a young person. This link opens a PDF document.
Establishing a National Employment First Agenda
Report from Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE) on the Employment First movement. This movement seeks to provide integrated and community-based employment for people with disabilities. Employment First is about raising expectations. Without higher expectations, individuals with disabilities and their families often settle for programs or services that do not encourage them to participate fully in the mainstream of community life. This link opens a PDF document.
We Have Job Openings
If you know someone on SSDI or SSI who wants to work, Pick up the phone, Shoot us an e-mail or Check our website www.MyEmploymentOptions.com right now because we have jobs to fill!
We are a direct recruiter for three of the largest national call centers with whom we have a 50% placement rate! Our employers are adding on over 400 Customer Service positions in the next month. The jobs are full time and part time, at-home or on-site. Hiring immediately!
If you have clients that are currently receiving SSI or SSDI who want to work, send them our way! If we are unable help, we know someone who can. Call 800-441-3114, or e-mail us at fbrehon@myemploymentoptions.com
DOL Public Input Records Made Available
In early 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and its federal partners held a series of six public input sessions across the country on the employment of people with disabilities. Each session provided an opportunity for members of the public to provide input on better ways to employ all people with disabilities, including women, veterans and minorities with disabilities, and what is currently working in their communities to increase employment among people with disabilities. Summary reports of these sessions in Word format, as well as recorded video and audio programs, are now available by visiting http://www.disability.gov/employment/news_%26_events
Federal Hiring Event for People With Disabilities
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U. S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) are sponsoring a historic day-long Federal Hiring Event for People with Disabilities. Representatives from many agencies will be reviewing resumes prior to the event, and inviting prospective candidates for interviews. Learn more about the Federal Hiring Event for People with Disabilities on April 26, held in Washington, DC, by visiting http://www.USAJOBS.gov/DisabilityHiringEvent.asp.
From the website, prospective applicants can find information on:
- Agencies participating in the Event
- Available positions and locations
- The application process for applicants, including documentation required
- Training for applicants and managers on the "Schedule A" process
- Web-based training tools with information on preparing for the event and interview
- Frequently asked questions
This invitation-only event is for people with disabilities who will have an opportunity to be interviewed by hiring managers. To be considered for positions throughout the United States, in the Federal government, and to receive an invitation to attend, resumes, along with appropriate documentation should be submitted to hiringevent@opm.gov, between March 8 to March 24. You may also submit resumes and documentation directly to participating agencies.
Now is the Time to Begin Your Career of Service.
DRC Priorities for Employment in Fiscal Year 2010
- DRC will assist people with disabilities in rural Arkansas in accessing the internet so they can become informed and active participants in their communities.
- DRC will work with ARS and ICAN to distribute and customize computers ARS is no longer using to people with disabilities who are unable to purchase their own computers.
- DRC will work with an internet provider to ensure that the computers that are distributed are linked to the internet at little or no charge.
- DRC will provide disability rights advocacy for people with disabilities who have a right to services under the federal Rehabilitation Act.
- DRC will represent Vocational Rehabilitation consumers to ensure that they receive information and advice regarding obtaining vocational rehabilitation and employment services or other services that a beneficiary with a disability may need to secure, maintain, or regain gainful employment.
- DRC will identify and correct any deficiencies by entities providing services to people with disabilities related to employment networks and other concerns related to the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency program.
- DRC will represent consumers with transition issues from high school to higher education or job placement.
- DRC will review and investigate any complaint of improper or inadequate services provided to a beneficiary with a disability by a service provider, employer, or other entity, except SSA, involved in the beneficiary's return to work effort.
- DRC will review and investigate complaints by SSDI and/or SSI beneficiaries and take appropriate action to remedy the complaint.
- DRC will assist beneficiaries in identifying issues and obstacles to their return to work effort and take appropriate action to remedy the complaint.
- DRC will provide advocacy to beneficiaries who have employers as their Representative Payee
- DRC will complete Employer Representative Payee (Rep Payee) site reviews by the deadline set by Social Security.
- DRC will raise issues that affect the lives of people with disabilities at meetings attended by policy makers and/or people with disabilities.
- DRC will serve on the Rehabilitation Council to advise the Council at its quarterly meetings on the role of DRC as well as ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities.
- DRC will monitor the Board of the Division of Services for the Blind to advise the Board at its quarterly meetings on the role of DRC and on ways to stop discrimination against people who are blind or visually impaired.
- DRC will serve on the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG) Advisory Board's EmployAbility project to advise the Board at its quarterly meetings on ways to stop discrimination against people with disabilities who are Medicaid recipients.
- DRC will inform people with disabilities of their rights through the publication and dissemination of pertinent information.
- DRC will attend transition conferences to inform students and staff about DRC services.
- DRC will distribute the Client Assistance Program (CAP) and PABSS brochures to high schools to stop discrimination against students with disabilities.
- DRC will distribute the Client Assistance Program/PABSS DVD that was produced in FY 2009 to CRPs to inform people with disabilities of DRC services and client rights.
- DRC will provide timely information on each DRC program, upcoming events, cases, investigations, legislation, etc.
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