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ADA

How do part-timers affect ADA, MHRA thresholds?

04/11/2013
Q. We currently have 15 employees, but several work part time. Are we required to provide reasonable accommodations under the ADA or the MHRA?

Medical certification of need for accommodation is unclear?

04/11/2013
Q. An employee requested an accommodation for a medical issue. We asked her to provide a note from her medical provider regarding the need for accommodation. She brought in a note but it’s unclear what the physician is trying to say. What should we do?

ADA accommodation may not be possible, but explore the options

04/11/2013
Under the ADA and the MHRA, disabled workers are entitled to reasonable accommodations. Deciding what’s reasonable requires an interactive process in which both employer and employee discuss options that allow the employee to perform essen­­tial job functions. The employer then can choose which accommodation it prefers.

‘Magic word’ not needed for accommodation

04/11/2013

By now, you are probably familiar with the idea your FMLA obligations are triggered when employees provide enough information for you to reasonably understand that they might need FMLA leave. They don’t need to say any “magic words.” It’s the same with requests for reasonable accommodations under the ADA.

Flip-side of Yahoo debate: Is flextime required?

04/05/2013

Yahoo’s CEO got caught in a major media firestorm over her decision to eliminate employees’ work-from-home options. But employers should not get Yahoo’s business mandate confused with the legal obligations of every U.S. employer to consider flexible work arrangements for their disabled employees.

Poorly timed physical costs NYPD in ADA case

04/03/2013
The NYPD has agreed to a settlement in a disability discrimination case filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. An applicant for a school crossing guard position had filed the complaint and later sued, alleging that the NYPD required a physical examination im­­mediately upon completion of a job application.

How can I balance ADA with safety concerns?

03/29/2013
Q. Can I consider safety when deciding whether to hire a disabled applicant or retain an employee with a disability?

Do OSHA and other laws cover telecommuting?

03/29/2013
Q. We recently hired someone who will be working from home three days a week. Do OSHA’s regulations and standards apply to home offices? And are there any other laws we would need to be concerned about regarding telecommuting?

When employee has used up FMLA leave, consider additional time off under the ADA

03/29/2013
It’s a perennial puzzle: How should employers handle it when an em­­ployee has an FMLA-covered serious health condition that is also an ADA disability? Answer: Consider FMLA leave the minimum amount of un­­paid leave the employee can take.

Track ADA accommodation discussion and offers

03/25/2013
The ADA accommodations process must also be ongoing—and it doesn’t necessarily end with the first accommodation. But sometimes, a disabled employee can become unreasonable as time passes. You may decide to revoke an accommodation or refuse to modify it. If he sues, clear documentation showing what you did over the years can mean winning the lawsuit.