Catherwood LibraryILR School

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from a Justice Department lawyer yesterday, supporting the right of the federal government to take employers to court for illegal practices even if employees have been forced to sign arbitration agreements giving up the right to sue their employer. This case, which involves a suit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against a company which fired a disabled employee after he had a seizure on the job, is an outgrowth of the growing popularity in business circles of requiring employees to agree to waive their right to sue and submit to company controlled arbitration procedures as a condition of employment. A lawyer for the company involved has argued that if federal agencies are allowed to pursue lawsuits under civil rights and workplace safety laws, it will defeat the purpose of arbitration agreements.