Oklahoma manufacturer sued for firing workers over COVID vaccine exemptions

AG Equipment Company, a Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, compressor packaging manufacturer, violated federal law when it fired 10 employees for not receiving the COVID-19 vaccination because of their religious beliefs or medical restrictions, the Equal Opportunity Commission has charged. Employment Opportunities (EEOC) of the US. a lawsuit filed today.

According to the EEOC lawsuit, in the fall of 2021, AG Equipment mandated that all employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination and told workers that no exceptions would be allowed for any reason. However, 10 employees submitted written applications seeking exemptions based on their religious beliefs or medical conditions. The company declined to discuss the employees’ claims or explore possible accommodations and fired the 10 people on October 15, 2021, along with 77 other unvaccinated workers.

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

Source: EEOC

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Oklahoma Manufacturing COVID-19 lawsuits