The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently updated and expanded its guidance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and federal anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (“Title VII”). The guidance, initially issued in December of 2020, covers communicating with employees regarding their COVID-19 diagnosis or
EEOC Issues Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Workplace
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently issued its long-awaited guidance regarding the implications of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace under certain EEO laws. In general, the guidance confirms that employers can require that employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment in certain circumstances, provides guidance on how to communicate with
New EEOC Guidance Tackles Employee ADA Rights and Opioid Use
The EEOC has issued new guidance about the rights of employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act as it relates to an employee’s opioid use, addiction, or past addiction. The guidance applies to use of a variety of opioids, whether they are prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or substances that can be prescribed to help treat
What Employers Should Know about COVID-19 and the ADA
COVID-19 has changed workplaces across the country. The virus’s status as a pandemic has given employers more tools to protect employees from the risks of infection at work. While the ADA normally restricts employers from making medical inquiries to employees or conducting medical exams at work, the COVID-19 pandemic has relaxed some of these restrictions.
Appeals Court Rejects Disability Discrimination Claim of Employee with Supervisor-Induced Stress and Migraines
When an employee requests an accommodation or asserts a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer’s second question—right after “Are we even covered by the ADA?”—will likely be: “Did/does the employee have a disability?” (Claims from employees who are merely perceived as disabled are a topic for another day.) The definition of a
Disability Accommodations Can Take Many Forms
Often times when I am speaking to a client about an employee’s requested accommodation for a disability, we are talking about leave as that is often the request most difficult to accommodate. Another one that gives employers fits is “light duty.” But what about some other types of accommodations?
A recent Pennsylvania case reminds employers
Afraid Your Workers Might be Like Cheech and Chong with Medical Marijuana?
With the prevalence of medical marijuana laws in this country, I routinely get asked by employers what are the rules where an employee has a medical marijuana card? Can I still do pre-employment screening? What if they are using at work? Do I have to accommodate medical marijuana in the workplace?
Get the answers to
Volvo Reaches $70k Settlement in Disability Discrimination Suit After Refusing to Hire Applicant on Suboxone
Volvo Group North America, LLC will pay $70,000 and institute a three-year consent decree to resolve a federal disability discrimination suit brought by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC).
According to the suit, Volvo made a conditional job offer to a qualified applicant for a laborer position at its Hagerstown, Maryland facility. The applicant,
Seventh Circuit Says Extended Medical Leave is Not a Reasonable Accommodation under the ADA
On September 20, 2017, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision that a requested three month medical leave due to a disability was not a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. Although there is some discussion of the particular facts in the case, much to the delight of management-side attorneys like me, the case
EEOC Sues Freight Company for Failing to Accommodate Emotional Support Dog
A notable case caught our eye recently coming out of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). Namely, The EEOC sued CRST International, Inc. (“CRST”) claiming that it, among other things, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA