Acme Markets to Pay $60,000 to Resolve EEOC Disability Discrimination Charge

PHILADELPHIA — Malvern, Pa.-based ACME Markets, Inc., a supermarket chain that operates 164 stores in Pennsylvania and five other states, will pay $60,000 and provide significant equitable relief to settle a disability discrimination charge filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

Following an investigation, the EEOC found reasonable cause to believe that ACME Markets failed to provide a reasonable accommodation for the disability of a former employee at its Denver, Pa., facility.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employment dis­crimination based on disability. It also requires employers to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee or job applicant with a disability, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship for the employer.

ACME Markets will pay monetary relief to the employee and revise its reasonable accom­modation policies. The supermarket chain will hire qualified external trainers to conduct anti-discrim­ination training and post a notice regarding the settlement. ACME Markets will report to the EEOC on how it handles any future complaints of disability discrimination or denial of a reasonable accommo­dation, as well as its compliance with the voluntary settlement.

“We applaud ACME Markets for voluntarily resolving this matter and for implementing important policy changes and training to protect the employment rights of individuals with disabilities, including improving its reasonable accommodation policies,” said Jamie R. Williamson, director of the EEOC's Philadelphia District.

EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office is one of four offices in the Philadelphia District, which has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and parts of New Jersey and Ohio. Attorneys in the Philadelphia District Office also prosecute discrimination cases in Washington, D.C., and parts of Virginia.

EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.