Cystic Fibrosis Discrimination

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/ states that cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease which affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States.  The Foundation further states that a defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus which clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas, leading to life threatening lung infections and stopping natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.  About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. 

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (”EEOC”) is a federal agency which enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, including workplace related disability discrimination.  In an August 17, 2009 EEOC Press Release, agency attorneys announced that a California based go-kart racing operation will provide $50,000.00 and other relief to settle a federal lawsuit charging that the company refused to accommodate an employee with cystic fibrosis and fired him.  According to the Press Release, a company representative brushed off the employee’s need for an accommodation in order to do his job, stating he didn’t care and didn’t want to hear about his “lung thing.”  The company eventually fired the employee.  See, http://www.eeoc.gov/press/8-17-09.html .  Disability discrimination violates the Americans With Disabilities Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees’ disabilities as long as this does not pose an undue hardship on the business.

Further information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov .