Recently, Circle K Stores entered into a nationwide agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to resolve disability, pregnancy, and retaliation discrimination charges.
Multiple charges of discrimination were filed against Circle K, for denying reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees with disabilities and other employees with disabilities, subjecting them to actions such as involuntary unpaid leave, retaliation, requiring employees to be 100% healed to return to work, or terminations.
These actions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Circle K has agreed to pay $8 million to compensate aggrieved individuals and will cover impacted individuals employed at Circle K between July 10, 2009, to September 26, 2022.
Current or former employees of Circle K who sought a reasonable accommodation such as leave for a disability and/or pregnancy, and were terminated at some period between July 10, 2009, and September 26, 2022, may contact the EEOC v Circle K Settlement Administrator, JND Legal Administration, by mail at PO Box 91243, Seattle, WA 98111, by phone toll-free number at 1-844-633-0691, or by email at info@EEOC-ADA-PDA-Settlement.com to submit a claim.
Employers must ensure that all individuals with disabilities, including pregnancy-related disabilities, are given an opportunity to request an accommodation and are granted accommodations when required by law.
Circle K has also agreed to update its policies; appoint a coordinator to provide oversight on pregnancy-related disability policies, requests for reasonable accommodations, and maintenance of records; conduct climate surveys and exit interviews with specific attention to their accommodation process; conduct anti-discrimination training to all employees, including management; and require performance evaluation of managers include consideration of compliance with EEO laws. This settlement is in effect for four years.
Additional information is available on the settlement website at where individuals can file a claim.
