Gone but not forgotten: An ADA case

Description

Abstract: A call about a job reference could bring a former employee right back into a company’s midst — as a liability risk. This article discusses a case in which a former employee of a company discovered that the business was mentioning his medical issues to prospective employers who were calling to check his references. He contacted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which alleged in court that the company had violated the confidentiality provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act. But both the district and appeals courts disagreed. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, No. 11-2848, Nov. 20, 2012 (7th Cir.)