Massachusetts Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Takes Effect April 1
Massachusetts employers will face new obligations regarding pregnant women and new mothers when the state’s new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) takes effect on April 1.
Tag: ADA
11th Circuit Stuns Police Department in Reversal of Taser Termination
Recently, a panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Alabama, Florida, and Georgia—reversed an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) discrimination matter and sent it back for further proceedings to the district court that had dismissed it before trial.
Modifying the Workplace for Older Employees
As our population demographics change over the years, employers are finding themselves with a workforce that is ever-changing in composition. While those in the Millennial cohort are finding their feet in the workplace and advancing into more senior roles, there are plenty of Generation Xers and Baby Boomers who plan to stay in the workforce […]
Employers Left in Wellness-Plan Limbo
In recent years, more and more employers have implemented wellness programs—employee participation programs that may include wellness education, health or fitness challenges, and even limited medical testing and preventive care requirements—to promote and encourage employee health and wellbeing. Through these programs, they hope to create a healthier workforce and reduce insurance costs.
Mental Health: Addressing A Significant Workplace Issue
Are your managers and staff prepared to handle mental health issues in the workplace? If not, they should be. Here is why: According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), about one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness in any given year, as reported by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI). Most […]
ADA: Reading Disorders, Government Employees, and National Security
In a recent case involving an employee with a previously unidentified reading disorder—which raised national security concerns because of his involvement with nuclear weapons—the 10th Circuit (which covers Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming) showed just how seriously courts view the Rehabilitation Act’s accommodation requirements.
First Things First: Court Outlines Test for ADA Interference Claims
At the end of September, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin), outlined—for the first time—the test for analyzing disability-based interference claims under the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Hiring in 2018: Why Neurodiversity Matters
Earlier this year, more than 250 CEOs from America’s leading businesses signed a pledge to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In today’s political and social climate, it is encouraging to see a top-down commitment to fostering corporate cultures that encourage dialogue, collaboration, mutual learning, and sharing of best practices.
Employer’s Winning Defense: Police Sergeant Was Undeserving and Disliked
A federal court in Rhode Island recently rejected a sergeant’s claim that the Providence Police Department’s (PPD) failure to promote him to lieutenant was illegally based on disability discrimination. The court found the employment decision was based in part on the chief of police’s conclusion that the sergeant was undeserving of the promotion and wasn’t […]
Michigan Court Looks to Medication in Disability Bias Claim
A Michigan employee sued her employer, alleging disability discrimination in the terms of promotions. A court of appeals heard the case and questioned whether or not the employee was actually disabled when she took her medication.