a repetitive basis. Plaintiff was also required to lift and carry up to 30 pounds for a variable distance of 100 feet or less.
In 1994, Plaintiff injured his hands and wrists when he fell from a set of steps at a customer's home. Plaintiff aggravated the injury to his right wrist in 1996, which required surgery. At that time, Schwan placed Plaintiff on Temporary Alternative Duty (TAD) as his injuries prevented him from performing the essential functions of the job of Route Sales Manager. According to Defendants, TAD is a company program that allows an employee to remain employed in a light duty position after an injury with the intention that the employee return to his or her regular position. Plaintiff eventually returned to his position and earneda promotion to Sales Manager of the Van Buren, Arkansas depot in 1997.
As a Sales Manager, Plaintiff hired and trained new employees, primarily OJT Route Sales Managers. In training new employees, Plaintiff was required to operate route trucks and to assist the trainees with their duties, to include loading and unloading the trucks. Defendants contend that as Sales Manager, Plaintiff was subject to the same physical requirements as the employees he supervised. Plaintiff contends he was not subject to the same requirements but, in any event, was capable of training the employees using his left hand.
In September 2002, Plaintiff required additional surgery as a result of the 1996 injury. Following the surgery, Plaintiff returned to his Sales Manager position with modified duties; specifically, he was not required to