Tag: disability accommodation

Managing Disability-Related Misconduct is a Potential Legal Minefield

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines “disability” as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity. The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) clarified that the ADA’s definition of disability is to be construed broadly to protect the individuals asserting claims under the ADA. Nearly two decades after […]

What Nonprofit Employers Need to Know for 2025

Nonprofit organizations face a rapidly evolving employment landscape shaped by economic pressures, technological advancements and shifting workforce expectations. As we begin the new year, it is of the utmost importance that all employers (including non-profit employers) ensure they are complying with recent changes in employment laws. It is a great time to review and update […]

Report Quantifies ‘Low Cost, High Impact’ of Accommodating Disabled Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new report finding that nearly half of workplace accommodations made for people with disabilities can be implemented at no cost to employers, and of those that do incur a one-time cost, the median expenditure has decreased when compared to previous reports to only $300. According to the DOL, an […]

Appellate Court Rules for Employer on Interactive Process Issue

In a recent decision, the Appellate Division, Second Department ruled an employer’s alleged failure to engage in the “interactive process” wasn’t an independent element of a disability discrimination claim under the New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL). Read on to understand what this decision means for your business and why it is normally always […]

Restaurant and Service Dog: ADA Cautionary Tale for Employers

A restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, recently made headlines after refusing to seat a customer with a service dog. The restaurant owner cited an incident in which a previous patron’s dog attacked a neighboring table. In addition, she refused to seat the customer because of her unfamiliarity with their dog and a history of other customers […]

Lessons on Accommodating Anxiety Disorders

“Birthdays were invented to sell Hallmark cards.” – Ron Swanson If you’ve ever watched the show “Parks and Recreation,” you know Leslie Knope lives for birthdays, but her boss, Ron Swanson, hates them. In one episode, Leslie pranks Ron by pretending to plan an elaborate birthday party for him, and he has a meltdown. The […]

Disability Accommodations in Post-Pandemic Work-from-Home World

In years past, employees who requested remote working arrangements were often met with strong resistance from managers, who viewed such requests as excuses to shirk responsibilities. Holding firm to a “face time” mentality, many members of management believed employees simply couldn’t be efficient and focused if they routinely worked from home. Then, of course, the […]

Accommodating Hearing and Visually Impaired Employees During Remote Work

Some of the often-hidden experiences in many offices even before the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a widespread shift to remote work have been the experiences of hearing and visually impaired employees. With a broad shift to remote work, these employees are often finding it more difficult than before to perform their basic job duties. Accommodating the […]

ADA

EEOC Addresses Telework as Reasonable Accommodation

By now, many employees have been working from home since March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With no signs of slowing and the rollout of a vaccine to the general public not likely to occur until well into 2021, teleworking looks like it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Vaccine

Tips for Fine-Tuning Workplace Vaccination Policies During Pandemic

With colder weather beginning to creep in, many employers are looking at their influenza vaccination policies with fresh eyes. COVID-19 and the seasonal flu share common symptoms, which can complicate your efforts to prevent their spread. With the nation’s healthcare system already stretched thin because of the coronavirus crisis, a potential flu outbreak could cause […]