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The Employer Handbook BlogHere’s a nice recap of my #SHRMleg “Becoming an ADA Expert” session
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Articles Posted in Disability
When can you stop allowing extensions of leave under the ADA?
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That’s all well and good for employers in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. But, what about the rest of us?
For example, if you operate a business in California, you’re in a constant state of pearl-clutching. So, some guidance would be helpful.
Well, sure enough. We get some. Continue reading
One employer just slayed both the Ebola Monster and an ADA lawsuit
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If that ugly pink jawn looks familiar, (1) you must have recognized him from a previous post on this blog, (2) you’re creeping me out, but (3) thank you for reading my blog.
Back in May, I wrote about an Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed against an employer. In its complaint, the EEOC alleged that the employer violated the ADA when it feared an employee’s travel would lead to a potentially catastrophic outbreak of Ebola in the United States and fired her when she refused to cancel her trip. Continue reading
The first cannabis stores in PA are opening. It’s time to re-educate employers on what that means.
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It’s been a while since we addressed the legalization of medical marijuana in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and what that means for employers. It was about two years ago to be precise.
Last October, I presented on this topic at the SHRM Lehigh Valley “annual” October Conference. But, many of you weren’t there. And, with the first medical marijuana dispensaries opening for business this weekend, this seems like as good a time as any to update my Pennsylvania peeps on what that means for your workplace.
(The rest of you can connect with me on LinkedIn.) Continue reading
The ADA usually doesn’t require accommodating an employee’s first choice of yoga classes.
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Sometimes, the blogging gods lob me a softball. And when that happens, I know what to do. Continue reading
Don’t forget leave as an ADA accommodation. (Yeah, that’s right. Leave!)
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Over the Summer, I blogged here about the Seventh Circuit’s decision in Severson v. Heartland Woodcraft, Inc. (opinion here).
In Severson, the Court concluded that “a multimonth leave of absence is beyond the scope of a reasonable accommodation under the ADA….Simply put, an extended leave of absence does not give a disabled individual the means to work; it excuses his not working.” (my emphasis)
It’s an excellent opinion for employers, especially those that do business in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
But, I want to use today’s post to refocus and remind you that leave can be a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Continue reading
Hey Handbook! Do we have to let our employee bring his emotional-support peacock to work?
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Bet you weren’t expecting that, were you? Continue reading
A lesson on workplace drug testing and opioids
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One of your potential hires just completed a five-panel drug test as a condition of employment, and he tested positive for opioids.
What do you do?
Will the Supreme Court sip from the FMLA ‘Holy Grail’?
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Okayyyyyy!
Oh, hold up. Not that Holy Grail. Continue reading
89,000 reasons to take a more holistic approach to workplace accommodations
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Here’s a reminder from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for employers to think twice about setting a deadline on an employee’s accommodation request. Continue reading