How to Stop Worrying and Learn to Love (or at least Accept) Reasonable Accommodations

If you are anything like many employers, your reaction upon hearing the term “reasonable accommodation” will mirror the stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and finally acceptance. Denial: “You want me to change our… Read More
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What is the Purpose of an Employee Handbook?

Handbooks. If you’ve ever worked for a company, chances are you’ve been handed one of these. They can run from a few pages to several hundred, often contain inexplicable passages of dense legalese, and are generally skimmed through briefl… Read More
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AI in Hiring: Key Lessons from the Workday Bias Suit for Employers

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape hiring practices, employers are increasingly facing legal challenges related to potential discrimination. The recent Workday AI Bias Lawsuit serves as a significant reminder of the risks associated… Read More
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When Telework Isn’t a Reasonable Accommodation: Lessons from the D.C. Circuit

A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit highlights a key issue in the employment law space: the importance of engaging in a meaningful, interactive process when employees request accommodations for disabiliti… Read More
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EEOC Issues Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Retaliation

According to EEOC statistics, the most common basis for charges of discrimination filed with the agency is retaliation. Issues related to COVID-19, such as the ongoing need for sick leave, vaccine hesitancy, religious exemption requests from vaccine… Read More
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Employer Alert: OSHA Rules on COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

On September 9, 2021, President Biden directed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to develop a rule to increase the number of workers who have received a COVID-19 vaccination. Consistent with that direction, OSHA developed an Em… Read More
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The Latest on Religious Exemptions to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Many employers are being inundated with employee requests for religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. Employers who are evaluating religious exemption requests must take a nuanced approach or risk violating federal anti-discrimination statutes, suc… Read More
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No, HIPAA Does Not Prevent Employers from Asking About Vaccination Status

As businesses have begun mandating vaccinations for employees and customers, many have heard a common response, in one form or another, “You can’t ask me that because of HIPAA.” In written form, these responses often invoke the prot… Read More
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Wal-Mart Ordered to Pay Over $125 Million to Former Disabled Employee

Wal-Mart has been hit with over a $125 million dollar jury verdict in a lawsuit filed against it by the EEOC. A Wisconsin jury found that Wal-Mart was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) when it discriminated against an em… Read More
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FDA Full Authorization Leads to More Employer Mandates

On August 23, 2021, the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which had previously been authorized under an emergency use authorization. Although some private employers had begun implementing vaccine mandates for employee… Read More
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