ADT Pizza to Pay $15,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination and Harassment Charge

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – ADT Pizza, doing business as Pizza Hut, has agreed to pay $13,083.75 in damages and $1,916.25 in backpay to resolve a charge of disability discrimination and harassment filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

The EEOC investigation found that ADT Pizza discriminated against an employee by subjecting her to unwelcome and derogatory comments by a member of management based on her disability and that she was constructively discharged because of the harassment. Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended.

Following a reasonable cause finding during the investigation, the parties engaged in pre-litigation conciliation, resulting in a settlement that includes monetary damages and backpay. As part of the settlement, ADT Pizza also agreed to hire an outside expert to conduct training on disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under the ADA for all of its employees in Ohio, as well as for all of its general managers, district managers, directors of operations, vice presidents of operations, and human resources employees nationwide; redistribute its EEO policy, its anti-harassment policy, and its complaint resolution form; and report any internal complaints of disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in Ohio.

"Employees have the right to work in an environment free from discrimination and harassment because of their disability," said Dilip Gokhale, director of the EEOC’s Cleveland Field Office. "This action makes it clear that the EEOC will vigorously enforce that right."

For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination. For more information on harassment, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/harassment.

The conciliation agreement was initiated by the EEOC’s Cleveland Field Office, one of four component offices of the agency’s Philadelphia District Office. The Philadelphia District Office has jurisdiction over Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and portions of New Jersey and Ohio. Attorneys in the Philadelphia District Office also prosecute discrimination cases in Washington, D.C., and portions of Virginia.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.

Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC.gov)