Tag: Leave Management

Train Employees on Appropriate Use of the Internet at Work

The material in today’s Advisor is adapted from BLR’s 10-Minute HR Trainer session, “Appropriate Internet Use.” A Reasonable and Balanced Approach Surveys indicate that in most workplaces today, employers and employees agree that some nonbusiness use of the Internet is both inevitable and acceptable. When allowed, appropriate personal use of the Internet in the workplace […]

HR’s Response to Leave Issues? Bewilderment

“In all the jurisdictions I’ve practiced in, the general reaction to leave issues is bewilderment,” says Attorney Matthew Effland. In a recent presentation at SHRM’s Annual Conference and Exposition in Chicago, Effland clarified the particularly confusing issue of military leave.

$4.5M Settlement Ends Decade-long Disability Suit against USPS

The U.S. Postal Service will pay $4.5 million to settle claims that it failed to accommodate employees with hearing impairments. The court-approved agreement ends the decade-long class action dispute. The class action (Hubbard v. Donahoe, No. 03-1062 (RJL) (D.D.C. July 31, 2013)) stemmed from two related actions brought before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. […]

EEOC Says FBI Must Reconsider Special Agent With Vision Impairment

The U.S. Department of Justice discriminated against an individual with a disability in its hiring process, in violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found. EEOC determined that DOJ ran afoul of the law, which prohibits disability discrimination by entities receiving federal funds, when it rescinded a conditional […]

Guidance on Developing Effective Training Sessions

The training information in this issue is adapted from BLR’s audio presentation, Training the Trainer. Guidance Trainees can work with this exercise to begin to plan an actual training session. The trainer of the “train the trainer” session should stress to trainees that the plans they make are not set in stone; however, the exercise […]

6th Circuit: Short-Term Disability Claim Trumps FMLA Certification Request

A recent appeals court ruling indicates that an employer may wait and see if short-term disability benefits are granted or denied to the employee on leave before it sends a request for medical certification that verifies the employee’s eligibility under the Family and Medical Leave Act. In Kinds v. Ohio Bell Telephone Company, No. 12-4048 […]

Investigating Potential FMLA Abuse

FMLA abuse is one of the biggest concerns for employers when complying with FMLA leave regulations. One example of potential FMLA abuse is questionable leave use. This is when someone is out on leave and they are doing something that seems inconsistent with the leave. For example, what happens when an employee is found to […]

8 Steps to Stopping Intermittent/Reduced Leave Abuse

Alexis, who offered his intermittent leave tips during BLR’s Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, held recently in Las Vegas, is with the Kinaga Law Firm in Los Angeles. 1. Insist on Complete Certs Make sure the medical certification is fully completed, urges Alexis. As the employer, you are entitled to a complete and sufficient certification document. […]

Special Considerations for Medical Certification of Intermittent Leave

Managing intermittent leave can cause confusion and headaches, yet it is a required aspect of compliance with the FMLA. However, the proper use of medical certification is one of the ways to both manage the leave properly and reduce the risk of intermittent leave abuse. “Medical certification is a powerful tool to control and monitor […]

The 4 Ways to Challenge FMLA Certs

Alexis, who offered his intermittent leave tips during the recent Advanced Employment Issues Symposium in Las Vegas, is with the Kinaga Law Firm in Los Angeles. The certification process is set up to allow you to get the facts that establish the medical necessity or qualifying exigency that qualify employees for leave. If you doubt […]