One of HR’s biggest questions about disability accommodations: What conditions are covered under the ADA? Here’s some guidance from a recent court decision.
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Tags: accommodation, diabetes, essential job functions, insulin
Though it was only signed a few weeks ago, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act has already caused big legal problems for some companies.
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Tags: Lilly Ledbetter, Obama, pay discrimination
FMLA often throws a wrench in employers’ efforts to keep absenteeism in line. Here’s an example of an attendance policy that violated the law, according to one court:
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Tags: absence policy, unexcused absences
Companies can often be held liable in court when employees cause accidents while “under the scope of employment” — but what does that really mean? In a recent case, a company was sued after an employee on call hit a car while driving drunk. Read the facts and decide: Who won?
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Tags: accident, cell phone, driving, liability
When valuable employees quit, companies may not feel so good about losing top performers. One solution that was attempted recently: Have them thrown in jail.
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Tags: 13th amendment, resignation
Supervisors are often the first point of contact with employees on medical leave. That’s why it’s important for them to be trained on the basics of the law — and to come to HR anytime there’s confusion.
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When is a medical condition serious enough to qualify as a disability? It’s one of the toughest questions HR has to answer — and setting the bar too high can wind up getting a company dragged into court.
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Tags: chemical sensitivity, perfume, reasonable accommodation
A new Supreme Court ruling sends managers a message about conducting complaint investigations: Watch how employees serving as witnesses are treated — or the company could be hit with a retaliation claim.
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Tags: investigation, retaliation, Supreme Court, witness
HR pros are used to reminding managers to report harassment they witness. As a recent case shows, that warning should be issued to members of the HR staff, too.
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Tags: HR manager, witness
Here’s an example of a company that got in big legal trouble after a hiring manager gave an applicant an inconsistent explanation of why she didn’t get the job.
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