Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Kohl's Department Stores, Inc.

EEOC v. Kohl's Department Stores: Court Rules Against Employee in Accommodation Dispute

This case involved a Kohl's employee who needed workplace accommodations due to a disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Kohl's on the employee's behalf, claiming the company failed to provide reasonable accommodations and that the employee was forced to quit due to poor treatment (called "constructive discharge").

The court ruled in favor of Kohl's. While the judge acknowledged that Kohl's handled the situation poorly, the court found that the employee didn't participate in good faith when trying to work out accommodation options. The employee refused to discuss alternative solutions that Kohl's offered, which hurt their case. The court dismissed both the accommodation failure claim and the constructive discharge claim.

What this means for workers: This case shows that employees have a responsibility to work cooperatively with their employers when requesting disability accommodations. Even if your employer handles things badly, you still need to engage in honest discussions about possible solutions. Refusing to consider reasonable alternatives that your employer suggests could weaken your legal case if you later sue for discrimination.