Additional Coverage:
- A former Tesla employee is suing the company, saying he was ‘completely blindsided’ by its RTO policy (newsbreak.com)
Return-to-Office Lawsuits on the Rise
Employees are increasingly suing employers over mandatory return-to-office policies. A former Tesla executive filed a lawsuit claiming he was forced to commute 400 miles after being promised a remote job. He alleges that stress related to the new policy worsened his medical condition and that he was fired despite informing HR.
Another lawsuit involves a nonprofit in Ohio that was sued by the EEOC for disability discrimination. An employee undergoing cancer treatment was forced to resign due to the return-to-office policy. A tire shop in Arizona also settled a disability lawsuit after failing to accommodate a disabled worker after instituting a return-to-office mandate.
Experts believe that disability discrimination lawsuits may become more common as companies implement stricter return-to-office policies. The EEOC has emphasized the importance of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities.