Tag: ADA accommodation

Case Study: Appeals Court Gives Tough Break to Employers on ‘Essential’ Duties

Within the last year, interesting trends have emerged from federal courts on a variety of important ADA issues. Striking somewhat of a balance, courts have tended to be more favorable to employers in deciding which functions of a job are truly “essential.” Conversely, many courts have sided with the employee regarding the sufficiency of the […]

Dogs and Horses and Reptiles, Oh My! Service Animals as Workplace Accommodations

It’s common to encounter people with service dogs when you’re out and about town, such as at the grocery store, a sports arena, or a doctor’s office. These types of businesses are considered “places of public accommodation” under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and as a general rule, they must allow […]

Interactive Process Not Triggered Until Employee Brings Up Need for Accommodation

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits covered employers from discriminating against a qualified individual with a disability. It also requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability. Failure to accommodate an employee when a reasonable accommodation is available is a violation of the law. But employers aren’t required to provide […]

Restaurant and Service Dog: ADA Cautionary Tale for Employers

A restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, recently made headlines after refusing to seat a customer with a service dog. The restaurant owner cited an incident in which a previous patron’s dog attacked a neighboring table. In addition, she refused to seat the customer because of her unfamiliarity with their dog and a history of other customers […]

Software, Algorithms, and AI: New EEOC Guidance for Employers

It’s the year 3022, and you’ve just applied for a new job as an engineer on a starship traveling to Mars. You submit your resume, and an algorithm selects you for an interview. You record video answers to the employer’s interview questions and upload them for a robot to review. Using software to review applicant […]

Court Restores Accommodation Claim for Employee with Pending Leave Request

Once an employee requests an accommodation, their employer has a duty to engage in an “interactive process” to try to determine whether they can accommodate the disability. With that in mind, employers should take note of this recent decision from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers Tennessee, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan). The […]

Time Is on Her Side: Temporary Disabilities Under the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) entitles employees to job protections when they suffer from disabilities. In 2008, Congress passed the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which modified the ADA. The ADAAA and regulations adopted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) interpreting the law make clear the term “disability” should be interpreted broadly. Conditions that […]

Using Artificial Intelligence Hiring Tools May Lead to Disability Discrimination

Employers using artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate job applicants and employees may run afoul of laws prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently warned. If your business is relying on that increasingly common technology, be sure it isn’t having a disparate impact […]