Prescription for Failure

Complainant, an oil company field worker, alleged that he had been discriminated against on the basis of his disability when his employer required that he stop taking a medication his doctor had prescribed and confirmed to be safe in order to continue working. Complainant had been employed successfully in his position for years while taking the medication, but the company rejected the physician’s recommendation and terminated complainant’s employment. Investigation found the respondent discriminated against the complainant when it failed to accommodate him by allowing him to continue taking the recommended medication. After an accusation was filed, the parties reached a settlement agreement under which respondent corrected its discriminatory policy, provided corrective training to its employees, and paid complainant the sum of $95,000.