Cruz Construction to Pay $56,000 in EEOC Retaliation Charge

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Cruz Construction Co., Inc., agreed to provide $56,000 and injunctive relief to a former employee following an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's investigation, the company fired an administrative assistant in July 2023, two days after she requested a reasonable accommodation for a disability.

Firing an employee because she asserted her right to ask for accommodation violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities if doing so would not pose an undue hardship.

Following the charge investigation, the parties engaged in the pre-litigation conciliation process which resulted in a settlement requiring Cruz Construction to pay monetary damages, review its non-discrimination policies, conduct manager and employee training and post a notice concerning the resolution.

"We commend Cruz Construction for agreeing to these measures to ensure all their staff are fully informed of their rights and responsibilities under the ADA," said EEOC San Francisco District Director Nancy Sienko. "It is vitally important that workers feel safe asserting their right to ask for a reasonable accommodation, and that supervisors understand their duty to respond by engaging in the interactive process."

For information on employer responsibilities and disability discrimination, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination-and-employment-decisions. For more information on retaliation, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/retaliation.

The EEOC's San Francisco District has jurisdiction over Northern Nevada, Northern California, Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

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.