Federal officials sue PepsiCo alleging discrimination against blind employee

Federal officials are suing PepsiCo Beverage Sales for allegedly violating the law by firing a blind employee at a Winston-Salem call center after failing to make accommodations.

The lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges a worker hired by PepsiCo in 2022 was fired after asking for an arrangement to better perform his job. The litigation claims this violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

According to the lawsuit, the employee told the company he was blind and asked for screen reading software. Then when his counselor with the state Department of Health and Human Services offered to help acquire the material, they were told this matter had to be handled internally.

The worker was then placed on unpaid leave to figure out accommodations, according to the lawsuit. The company allegedly later said it didn't have any other positions that would work for him, and it would not have the needed software to assist him until 2025.

PepsiCo said in an emailed statement that while they don't comment on pending litigation they "fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals."