Phoenix federal office heads $15 million tech giant settlement over COVID-19 bias

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Phoenix District Office announced a $15 million settlement with a major technology company regarding discriminatory practices related to COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. The EEOC alleged that the company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act by denying reasonable accommodations for employees with sincerely held religious beliefs or qualifying disabilities who sought exemptions from the vaccine mandate. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas emphasized that “there was no pandemic exception to workers’ civil rights and liberties.”

The discrimination charges were initially filed in December 2021. As part of the settlement, the company will pay $15 million to the affected employees and is required to review and revise its equal employment opportunity policies to ensure compliance with federal law. The company will also provide annual training to its employees on these policies.

EEOC Phoenix District Office Director Melinda Caraballo stated that the company’s commitment to policy review and reporting changes to the EEOC are “important steps in ensuring a workplace free of discrimination.” The EEOC is legally prohibited from naming the company as the settlement was reached voluntarily before a lawsuit was filed.

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