Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Commission v. Blue Cross Blue Shield

EEOC v. Blue Cross Blue Shield: Job Offer Rescinded Over Perceived Disability

This case involved a dispute over whether Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut illegally withdrew a job offer from someone because the company believed they had a disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the insurance company, claiming it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by rescinding the offer based on assumptions about the person's abilities rather than actual job requirements.

The court refused to rule in favor of either side without a full trial. The judge found there were genuine factual disputes that needed to be resolved by a jury, particularly around whether Blue Cross actually discriminated based on a perceived disability when they pulled back the job offer. The court did reject Blue Cross's argument that the lawsuit was filed too late.

This decision matters for workers because it reinforces that employers cannot make hiring decisions based on assumptions about disabilities. Even if someone doesn't actually have a disability, companies can still face legal consequences for treating them as if they do. Workers who believe they've been discriminated against due to perceived disabilities have legal protections, and employers must be prepared to justify their employment decisions with legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons.