FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2024
GardaWorld to Pay $37,500 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit
Federal Agency Settles with Cash Logistics Company for Refusing to Accommodate Deaf Employee
ORLANDO, Fla – Garda CL Southeast, Inc. doing business as GardaWorld, a company that provides cash logistics services to banks, financial institutions, and commercial and retail businesses, will pay $37,500 and furnish other relief to settle a disability lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
According to the lawsuit, GardaWorld refused to accommodate a Deaf employee for years despite his repeated requests for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter.
Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits disability discrimination, including failure to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Garda CL Southeast, Inc. d/b/a GardaWorld), Case No. 24-cv-01145) in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
In addition to the $37,500 in monetary relief, the three-year decree settling the lawsuit requires GardaWorld to provide qualified interpreters, in-person or through video remote interpreting, to applicants and employees who are deaf or hard of hearing, including in orientations, trainings, meetings with supervisors, performance reviews, disciplinary meetings, annual meetings, interviews and company meetings. GardaWorld will also provide training on Deaf culture; designate a human resources professional to address complaints or concerns regarding interpreting services; and report on any complaints to the EEOC.
“The EEOC brought this case to ensure disabled employees’ right to fully participate in the workplace,” said Kristen Foslid, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Miami District. “We commend GardaWorld’s willingness to resolve this matter and implement changes aimed specifically at protecting the rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing employees.”
Tampa Field Office Director Tamra S. Schweiberger said, “The EEOC will continue to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities to work. The ADA requires employers to engage in an interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations when there is no undue hardship. We commend GardaWorld’s renewed commitment to its Deaf and hard of hearing employees.”
For more information on disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination. Learn more about a resource the EEOC recently updated that explains ADA requirements for workers with hearing disabilities here: https://youtu.be/VGVmImhj5KI?feature=shared.
The EEOC’s Miami District Office is comprised of the Miami, Tampa and San Juan offices, and has jurisdiction over Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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.
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