Dollar General pays $1M in worker discrimination settlement

Dollar General has been accused of worker discrimination in a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), reports Business Insider.

The discount retailer has agreed to pay a settlement of $1 million after being accused of canceling job offers at a Bessemer, Ala., distributing center after certain applicants failed a health assessment. Some workers were turned away if their blood pressure exceeded 160/100 or if they did not have at least 20/50 vision in both eyes, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said the examinations included taking vital signs, a drug and vision test, and a review of current medications. The suit alleged they were extensive and often highly invasive and, in some cases, included genital examinations.

Potential employees also had to fill out questionnaires asking about family health history, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

The lawsuit also claimed workers were released based on their health assessment results and were not job related and said the hiring process violated the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA).

Dollar General stopped requiring the exams after the lawsuit was filed, the lawsuit states.

Dollar General did admit that those who had a job offer needed to complete a health assessment, which was conducted by a third party. However, the retailer did not admit to asking about family health history.

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In addition to the cash settlement, Dollar General, which is based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., also agreed to reviewing and/or revising its policy regarding ADA and GINA, training HR staff on ADA and GINA annually, and making sure its medical examiners do not administer a questionnaire on family health history.

Dollar General did not respond to a request for comment in time for the publication of this story.