On Friday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued FedEx Corporation FDX, saying the global shipping and logistics company violated federal law by discriminating against its employees with disabilities.
The lawsuit accuses FedEx of disability discrimination against ramp transport drivers who carry cargo between airport ramps and terminals.
According to the EEOC, FedEx forced these employees to either take unpaid leave or terminate them rather than providing reasonable accommodations.
The lawsuit claims that since November 2019, FedEx has enforced a “100%-healed” policy for ramp transport drivers—employees who operate heavy equipment and load freight. If a driver had medical restrictions, they were placed on a 90-day light-duty assignment.
After this period, if restrictions persisted, drivers were placed on unpaid medical leave for up to a year unless they qualified for disability benefits.
The EEOC alleges that FedEx did not explore accommodations such as colleague assistance or motorized equipment, ultimately keeping these drivers on unpaid leave or terminating them.
The EEOC highlighted the case of a Minneapolis-based driver who was unable to return to work without restrictions due to injuries.
After placing her on light duty, FedEx eventually terminated her when she couldn’t meet the “100%-healed” requirement, even though accommodations could have enabled her to perform her job.
This alleged behavior violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities.
The EEOC’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, seeks monetary and injunctive relief to prevent future discriminatory practices at FedEx.
“100%-healed policies cost workers their livelihood without considering individual needs,” said Gregory Gochanour, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Chicago District Office. Amrith Aakre, district director of the same office, commended the bravery of the initial complainant for bringing attention to this policy and helping the EEOC identify affected individuals.
Price Action: FDX stock is trading higher by 0.87% to $285.50 at the last check on Monday.
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