An Inclusive Litany

9/20/95

After a drunken ship captain wrecked an oil tanker and caused one of the worst oil spills in modern history, costing Exxon $5 billion in punitive damages, Exxon responded with tough new drug and alcohol standards for employees in safety-sensitive jobs. The company is now facing 107 lawsuits by employees claiming discrimination against alcoholics and drug users.

A Labor Department judge declared: "Public perception of the Valdez incident as having been caused by a recovering alcoholic does not justify discrimination against all recovering alcoholics."