ADA

Disability: Beware docking attendance points

10/04/2018

Policies designed to encourage regular attendance often use a point system to determine when employees who miss work will receive discipline. But that simplicity may create legal problems.

Must we accommodate employees’ need to bring therapy animals to work?

10/03/2018

Q. One of our employees suffers from severe panic attacks and has a pet hamster that she says relieves her anxiety. She wants to bring her hamster to work in case she has a panic attack. Are we required to grant this request?

If first disability accommodation doesn’t work, keep trying to find one that does

10/03/2018

The aim is to arrive at an accommodation that satisfies both the employer and the worker. But don’t think that once you have agreed on the accommodation, that’s the end of the matter.

ADA: Document interactive accommodations discussions

09/27/2018

To avoid later claims that no accommodation was offered, it makes sense to put your reasonable accommodation offer in writing, and have the employee accept or reject the offer. That creates a clear paper trail showing your efforts and the results.

Diabetic drivers approved for commercial interstate runs

09/25/2018

A new rule finalized Sept. 19 for the first time allows truck drivers with diabetes to operate commercial vehicles on interstate routes as long as they can prove they carefully monitor and manage the disease.

Document all requests for disability-related leave

09/24/2018

Does your attendance policy penalize employees who rack up a certain number of absences? Make sure managers report any disability-related accommodation requests involving time off so you can exclude those absences from the count.

EEOC: NYC hotel provides poor accommodations

09/24/2018

The EEOC has filed suit against the Grand Hyatt New York, alleging the Manhattan hotel violated the ADA when it discontinued an apparently successful disability accommodation without demonstrating that it constituted an undue burden.

Disability is no excuse for poor performance

09/17/2018

Disabled workers are entitled to reasonable accommodations that allow them to perform the essential functions of their jobs. However, accommodations must be related to the disability. They can’t serve as an excuse not to perform essential job functions.

The ‘new’ ADA: How to handle employee disabilities

09/16/2018

When Congress expanded the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2009, it broadened the circle of people eligible for ADA rights even wider. That has led to a spike in people filing ADA-related legal claims. Here’s what managers need to know about the ADA:

Murphy Oil will funnel $100,000 to former manager

09/13/2018

A San Antonio-area Murphy Oil gas station will pay $100,000 to a manager it fired, settling charges it violated the ADA when it failed to accommodate his disability.

ADA