For the second time in a year, Gannett has settled an employment lawsuit filed on her behalf by a federal labor regulator, claiming the company discriminated on the basis of disability, according to a news release from the government agency.
GCI agreed to pay $49,900 in back pay and damages to Robin Parker-Garcia, who worked for Gannett Media Technologies in Phoenix until she was dismissed after returning from a medical leave of absence because of bipolar disorder.
The suit was filed on her behalf in April 2011 by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said Parker-Garcia had exceeded expectations as an employee and was eligible for a promotion before taking her medical leave.
In addition to paying the monetary award, GCI is being required to provide additional disability discrimination training to supervisors and other employees in three states over the two years covered by the settlement.
The settlement follows one in June, where GCI agreed to pay $150,000 to settle another EEOC suit alleging disability law violations at The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun. There, the EEOC said, the Sun fired a commercial print manager a week after he returned from a medical leave after sustaining permanent spinal cord damage following back surgery.
The suit was filed on her behalf in April 2011 by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said Parker-Garcia had exceeded expectations as an employee and was eligible for a promotion before taking her medical leave.
In addition to paying the monetary award, GCI is being required to provide additional disability discrimination training to supervisors and other employees in three states over the two years covered by the settlement.
The settlement follows one in June, where GCI agreed to pay $150,000 to settle another EEOC suit alleging disability law violations at The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun. There, the EEOC said, the Sun fired a commercial print manager a week after he returned from a medical leave after sustaining permanent spinal cord damage following back surgery.
I'm normally not a fan of these kind of lawsuits, but in the case of Gannett, they deserve it. I've never worked for a more discriminating and hostile company. Glad to have left it in 2012!
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