reasonable accommodation Archives - Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC)

2024 Will Bring Anaheim’s Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance

Jai HookerDecember 14, 2023Legislative Updates

The Anaheim Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance takes effect Jan. 1, 2024, though it had a rocky path to passage.

Indiana Enacts Pregnancy Accommodations Law, Effective in July 2021

Tasha PattersonApril 23, 2021Legislative Updates

A new Indiana statute sets out the process for pregnant workers to seek a reasonable accommodation from their employers. The new law applies to employers with at least 15 employees. It goes into effect on Jul. 1, 2021.

Virginia Expands Disability Discrimination Protections and Adds Domestic Worker Protections

Tasha PattersonApril 14, 2021Legislative Updates

Effective Jul. 1, 2021, Virginia further expands the scope of the Virginia Human Rights Act (VHRA) to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. The state also enacted protections and benefits for domestic workers.

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana User May Proceed With Disability Discrimination And Retaliation Claims

Tasha PattersonJanuary 21, 2021Legislative Updates

A federal court in Pennsylvania held that a medical marijuana user’s claims for disability discrimination and retaliation were sufficiently alleged to survive the employer’s motion to dismiss.

The 5th Circuit Affirms “My Disability Made Me Do It” Is No Excuse for Sleeping on the Job

Tasha PattersonFebruary 5, 2020Legislative Updates

On Jan. 14, 2020, the 5th Circuit ruled on whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires an employer to excuse terminable misconduct — in this case, sleeping on the job — based on an employee’s after-the-fact, disability-related explanation.

Mental Health and the ADAAA: A Blueprint for Management

Tasha PattersonJanuary 13, 2020Compliance Conference

Navigating the legal landscape when an employee has a disability related to his/her mental health can be challenging. At the outset, it is not always clear that an employee may need a reasonable accommodation.

6th Circuit Rules Regular, On-Site Attendance Is Essential Function

Tasha PattersonOctober 22, 2019Legislative Updates

The 6th Circuit held “regular, in-person attendance constitutes an essential function of most jobs,” but an employer must tie time-and-presence requirements to some other job requirement in order to prove that in-person attendance is indeed an essential job function.

7th Circuit Rules Employee’s Telework Accommodation Unreasonable

Tasha PattersonSeptember 17, 2019Legislative Updates

The 7th Circuit ruled the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) did not fail to accommodate a disabled lawyer by rejecting her request to work from home.

Maine Enacts Law Extending Protections to Pregnant and Nursing Employees

Tasha PattersonJuly 11, 2019Legislative Updates

On Jun. 27, 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed into law L.D. 666, which extends existing protections for pregnant and nursing employees in Maine.

Connecticut Issues Guidance on Pregnancy Accommodation

Tasha PattersonMay 1, 2019Legislative Updates

On Apr. 23, 2019, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO) issued a Best Practices Bluepaper as guidance for employers with three or more employees facing accommodation requests from employees for pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions.

Kentucky Adopts Pregnant Workers Act

Tasha PattersonApril 15, 2019Legislative Updates

Governor Bevin signed Senate Bill 18, the Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act. The Act amends the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KCRA) and applies to employers with 15 or more employees within the state in each of twenty (20) or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, as well as any agent of the employer.