Taxes: Changes in Law Affect the Workplace
President Bush has signed the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 and the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, both of which make important tax changes employers need to keep in mind.
Tag: disability
Disability Bias: Employee Unable to Travel Is Not Disabled, but Court Considers Retaliation Claim Anyway; Practical Considerations
A new ruling from the federal appeals court that covers California demonstrates how you can get hit with a retaliation claim following an employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation—even if it turns out the employee wasn’t disabled. The court also pointed out that travel restrictions don’t qualify as limitations on a major life activity for […]
News Notes: Jury Awards $19 Million To Disabled Employee Fired For Absenteeism
A jury in Sacramento recently awarded a staggering $19 million—$15 million of it in punitive damages—to a McKesson Corp. employee who claimed her employer violated disability bias and family and medical leave laws. Charlene Roby allegedly was fired under the company’s no-fault absence policy after several unexcused absences because of a panic disorder. She also […]
News Notes: Employee Stripped Of $2 Million Verdict For Industrial Injury
After Daniel Huffman, a sales manager in Pomona for Interstate Brands Co. (IBC), was demoted, he sued for age bias and emotional distress arising from a knee injury incurred in the new job, which required him to perform heavy physical work. A trial court awarded him $2 million for emotional distress from the knee […]
Equal Pay: Massive Lawsuit Highlights Need for Smart Pay Practices; An 8-Point Audit Checklist to Keep You In Compliance With Equal Pay Laws
A lawsuit charging Wal-Mart with discrimination against 1.6 million female employees has been certified as a class action by a federal district court judge in San Francisco. A key allegation in the litigation—being called the largest civil rights action in United States history—is that Wal-Mart violated state and federal equal-pay laws by paying female employees […]
News Notes: Court Clarifies Date Of Injury For Purposes Of Determining Workers’ Comp Liability
A California appeal court has ruled that for purposes of determining whether an employer is liable for an employee’s occupational disease or cumulative trauma injury, the date of injury is when the employee first suffered either temporary or permanent disability—not when medical treatment was received. The ruling is important because, with work-related disease or cumulative […]
News Notes: Jury Awards In Employment Lawsuits Skyrocket In 2003
The national median jury award in employment-practice liability cases, which includes discrimination and wrongful termination claims, rose 18 percent in 2003 to $250,000, according to a new report from Jury Verdict Research. At the same time, the compensatory award median for discrimination cases—including age, race, disability, and sex bias—fell slightly by 2 percent to $232,322. […]
Americans with Disabilities Act: Employee’s Respiratory Ailment Stemming from Workplace Mold Lands Employer in Court
Earlier we reported on the growing risks of toxic mold in the workplace. Now, a federal court ruling demonstrates how this health and safety problem can mushroom into complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Employee Suspects Mold in Building While working for the city of San Antonio, Texas, Dorothy Burnley was diagnosed with a […]
Disability Discrimination: Request For Accommodation Protected Even Though Employee Wasn’t Disabled
Most employers know the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires you to provide a reasonable accommodation for a qualified disabled employee. But did you know that even if an employee doesn’t have an ADA-covered disability, their request for a reasonable accommodation may still be a protected activity?
Health Insurance: New Health Savings Accounts–What They Are And How They May Impact Benefits Plan Choices
When the sweeping new Medicare law was recently signed into law, bundled within it was an unrelated but key provision for employers—the creation of tax-free Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). We’ll explain what HSAs are, who’s eligible, and what they could mean for you and your employees. We’ll also highlight a few potential downsides you should […]