Oklahoma Manufacturer to Pay $4.2M Over COVID Mandate

A G Equipment Company, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma compressor packaging manufacturer, will pay $4,250,000 to over 40 workers and provide other relief to settle a religious and disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.

According to the EEOC’s suit, in the fall of 2021, A G Equipment mandated that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination and told workers no exemptions would be permitted for any reason. Nonetheless, several employees requested exemptions based on their religious beliefs. One worker supplemented their request with a doctor’s note requesting an exemption due to a medical condition. The company refused to discuss the employees’ requests and fired all individuals who did not provide proof of vaccination, on Oct. 15, 2021, including workers who requested accommodations.

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibit religious and disability-based discrimination. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC, et al., v. A G Equipment Company, Case No. 24-cv-00403-SEH) in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.

In addition to providing $4.25 million in monetary relief for 43 workers who were fired because they were unvaccinated, the three-year consent decree resolving the suit enjoins A G Equipment from discriminating based on religion or disability in the future. The decree also requires the company to train managers in compliance with Title VII and the ADA; inform employees regarding their right to reasonable accommodation for religion and disability; and report to the EEOC about handling future accommodation requests.

Source: EEOC