UPS Sued for Discriminating Against Disabled Workers

August 27, 2009

In 2007, Trudi Momsen, a former employee of United Parcel Service (UPS), was fired from her job because she had multiple sclerosis. Federal law states that if an employee is injured or becomes ill and is no longer able to function in his or her previous capacity, then the employer must make every reasonable effort to reassign the employee to a more appropriate task.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing UPS on Momsen’s behalf for violating the federal regulation. The lawsuit, which was filed in a federal court in Chicago, says that UPS has had an “inflexible” 12-month leave policy since 2002. It also says that the policy does not provide for the required “reasonable accommodation” and instead calls for the termination of disabled employees.

A spokesperson for UPS claims that the suit is misdirected, as UPS has one of the most “generous and flexible leave policies in corporate America.” He claims that Momsen abandoned her position and did not request reassignment.