ST PAUL PARK, Minn. — A complaint filed by a former employee of the Marathon Oil Refinery in St. Paul Park involving her service dog has been settled by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
The state says Laura Ritt will receive $75,000, and the refinery will be required to provide anti-bias training and change company policy to prevent future acts of discrimination.
“More Minnesotans with disabilities are working," said Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. "Yet, disability discrimination in employment continues to be one of the largest areas of discrimination we investigate. That’s why we must address discrimination in order to build a more equitable and inclusive Minnesota.”
Ritt, a veteran with a service-related disability, wanted to bring her service dog River to work at the refinery but says the company refused. State investigators say no accommodations were made, even when a psychiatric nurse practitioner disclosed Ritt's diagnosis and explained that a service animal would help prevent the worsening of her disability-related symptoms on the job. Ritt eventually filed a complaint with the Department of Human Rights, which launched an official investigation into the matter.
On Sept. 23 the department ruled there was probable cause that the St. Paul Park Refinery violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which says employers have a responsibility to accommodate the known disability of an employee. Investigators determined that Ritt's service dog would have allowed her to perform her job without being limited by her disability-related symptoms.
The department also determined that the company failed to prove Ritt's service animal would have disrupted the workplace, posed a health or safety risk or caused a significant burden to Marathon Oil.
Besides the $75,000 paid to Ritt to cover lost wages, damages and attorneys fees, the settlement requires the refinery to:
- Reform company policies and procedures so that reasonable accommodations are made to ensure employees with disabilities can perform their job without facing discrimination;
- Provide anti-discrimination and anti-bias training to address implicit bias, promote equity and inclusion, and prevent future discrimination; and
- Partner with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services to recruit qualified individuals with disabilities to work at the refinery.
KARE 11 left a request for comment on the settlement with Marathon Oil's corporate communications department, but has yet to hear from them.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, please contact the department at 651-539-1133, or send an email.
Similar stories
