The US government is suing Starbucks Coffee Company for firing a barista in Texas because she is a dwarf.
When the employee from the border town of El Paso asked for a stool or small stepladder to perform her job, Starbucks denied the request and fired her that same day.
The US equal employment opportunity commission says the company claimed she could be a danger to customers and workers.
The commission, which filed the lawsuit, says Starbucks has violated federal law by denying a reasonable accommodation to the employee, who was hired in July 2009 and was fired after three days of training.
"Starbucks has become a virtual icon of modern American culture, appealing to an incredibly diverse customer base," said Robert Canino, a commission lawyer in Dallas, in a statement.
"We'd hope that when considering hiring a person with a disability, Starbucks would choose to enhance its brand with the mark of equal opportunity and access."
Starbucks spokeswoman Stacey Krum confirmed the woman was hired on a trial basis and after three days the store manager decided the work was too physically demanding for her to perform.
"Using the stool in that environment just wasn't a reasonable accommodation in that store," she said.
Ms Krum said she could not discuss the specifics of the case because the litigation is pending. But she said the company takes the commission's concerns very seriously.
"We certainly have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind," she said.
"We're very proud of our track record of hiring partners with a variety of disabilities."
- Reuters
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