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May You Require a Pregnant Employee to Take Leave?

Yesterday’s Advisor covered several aspects of pregnancy discrimination as laid out in recent guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  Today, more about pregnancy plus notice of a timely new webinar on benefits for same-sex couples. [Go here for the first part of the discussion on pregnancy discrimination] Requiring Leave May an employer […]

5 More Presidential Communication Tips

In studying the highest levels of leadership, impact, and influence, several common aspects of effective communication become clear, especially on the 10th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s passing, June 5. But even 10 years later and 25 years after his presidency, he is still known as the “Great Communicator,” says Dan Quiggle, author of Lead Like […]

‘I send pregnant employees home their last month’

[Go here for the first part of the discussion on pregnancy discrimination] Requiring Leave May an employer require a pregnant employee who is able to perform her job to take leave at any point in her pregnancy or after childbirth? No. An employer may not force an employee to take leave because she is or […]

EEOC’s Extensive Q&A Clarifies Obligations to Pregnant Employees

Pregnancy discrimination is often motivated by concern—pregnant women don’t need to be stressed—or chauvinism—pregnant women should take leave. In fact, though, those attitudes are discriminatory. And the plot thickens if a disability or FMLA leave is involved. EEOC’s recent guidance helps employers figure out where they stand. Pregnancy discrimination is often motivated by concern—pregnant women […]

EEOC Issues Extensive—and Helpful—Q&A on Pregnant Employees

On July 14 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued enforcement guidance on pregnancy discrimination accompanied by an extensive and practical Q&A. The new guidance, the first to address pregnancy discrimination since 1983, focuses on how the 2008 amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may apply to employees with pregnancy-related disabilities. Is EEOC […]

Forcing Pregnant Employee to Work then Firing her for Underperforming Raises FMLA Interference Claim, 11th Circuit Rules

An employee who was “forced” to work both during her pregnancy and immediately after her child’s birth, rather than take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, may have a viable FMLA interference claim when the employer later penalizes her, to the point of employment termination, for alleged poor performance, the 11th U.S. Circuit […]

Do You Train Employees to Communicate Like a President?

In studying the highest levels of leadership, impact, and influence, several common aspects of effective communication become clear, especially on the 10th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s passing June 5. But even 10 years later and 25 years after his presidency, he is still known as the “Great Communicator,” says Dan Quiggle, author of Lead Like […]

New Jersey joins states with ‘ban the box’ laws

by Jeffrey A. Gruen New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed the state’s “ban the box” legislation, meaning that most employers will be prohibited from asking applicants about their criminal histories until the conclusion of the first job interview. The legislature passed the Opportunity to Compete Act in June, and Christie signed it on August […]

FMLA notice requirements: Are you prepared?

by Jason R. Mau Since 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has provided eligible employees with job security for unpaid leave related to certain family and medical issues, including serious health conditions and the care of a newborn baby, a newly placed foster child, or an adopted child. The serious health condition protections […]