Robbinsdale, Minn.-based North Memorial Health has agreed to pay $180,000 to resolve allegations it denied a deaf woman a job because of her disability.
The arrangement, announced in a Jan. 13 news release, settles a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in federal court. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Kaylah Vogt, a 26-year-old student at the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Star Tribune reported.
In their lawsuit, EEOC representatives say that in July 2020, North Memorial Health failed to hire Ms. Vogt for a hospital greeter position for which she was qualified because she is deaf, and failed to provide her reasonable accommodation. The EEOC contends the health system violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in doing so.
"Unfortunately, some employers continue to discriminate against deaf applicants based on myths, fears and stereotypes about their ability to do the job because of their disability," Gregory Gochanour, regional attorney in Chicago for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, said in a news release.
North Memorial Health denies wrongdoing but agreed to settle the allegations.
In addition to paying $180,000 in compensatory damages, back pay and attorney's fees, the health system agreed to ensure it will apply its disability anti-discrimination and reasonable accommodation policies to all applicants and employees hired to work there, whether they are hired by North Memorial Health directly or via a staffing firm, the EEOC said. North Memorial Health also must provide training to employees involved in the hiring process, among other requirements.
North Memorial Health shared the following statement with the Star Tribune: "We recognize that our [hiring] processes in place for temporary roles may have been compromised during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we understand Ms. Vogt's disappointment in the decisions that were made at that time. ... We have reviewed specific practices following this case and will continue to strive to ensure our customers, our current, past and future team members, and our providers feel valued and respected."