Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health has agreed to pay $340,000 to eight healthcare workers to settle allegations that the system withdrew job offers to individuals with latex allergies, according to a news release from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The federal disability discrimination lawsuit was filed by the EEOC after John Muir allegedly withdrew job offers based on pre-employment health screenings and the assumption that eight workers had “life-threatening allergies and could not safely work in a hospital setting,” according to the release. Subsequently, some of the workers were independently evaluated by allergists who concluded they could work safely in a hospital.
As part of the settlement, John Muir will also revise its policies to ensure safeguards against potential latex-related disability discrimination. For example, employment candidates determined to have latex sensitivities will be evaluated by an allergist to determine what work restrictions, if any, may be appropriate.
Read the EEOC release on John Muir Health.
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