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Autistic employee fired: McDonald’s franchisee pays $100K to settle EEOC lawsuit

Carol Warner
By: Carol Warner
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About the Author

For nearly two decades, Carol Warner has analyzed the legal and financial realities behind workplace decisions, covering employment law, benefits, payroll and HR technology. She translates complex legal updates, regulatory shifts and vendor claims into plain language that HR teams can act on. Her focus is simple: What does this mean for employers, and what should they do next? Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Last Updated: December 20, 2022
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JDKD Enterprises, the owner/operator of several McDonald’s franchises in New Jersey, has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of an autistic employee.

The EEOC claimed the franchisee fired an employee who worked at several McDonald’s locations over a 37-year period because he has autism. The suit further alleged that the employee had a long history of excellent service and had won several awards recognizing his job performance.

Autistic employee fired 2 months after takeover

Despite the employee’s track record, he was “abruptly fired,” the EEOC alleged, just two months after the franchisee assumed ownership of the location where the employee worked.

The EEOC said the franchisee’s conduct violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions based on workers’ disabilities and need for accommodations.

In addition to the financial payout, the franchisee entered into a two-year consent decree. Under it, the company must submit periodic reports to the EEOC and provide training to managers regarding legal obligations under the ADA.

Info: JDKD Enterprises Will Pay $100,000 to Settle EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit,  12/16/22.

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