Tag: ADA

The Five Grand Myths of Essential Functions

It’s time to review those job descriptions again! And as always, the focus is on the essential functions decision. We’ve collected five myths of essential functions to help you with this updating task. So before you start, take a look at our five myths—and then, dive in. The Five Myths of Essential Functions We’ve identified […]

What’s the Appropriate Sales Level for Commission to Kick In?

Schum, a Senior Consultant at Compensation Resources, Inc. in Upper Saddle River, NJ offered his tips for sales compensation design at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR/HRhero. Sales Compensation Model Schum offers an example of the true cost of a salesperson and then charts out how that might translate into a bonus program. Cost of […]

Can You Require an Annual Physical? An Alcohol Test? A Prescription List?

Can you require an annual physical? An alcohol test? A prescription list? Generally, no, no, and no. These and other tricky ADA questions are answered in EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations. First of all, remember that there is a difference between applicants and employees, and the rules concerning disability-related inquiries and […]

EEOC’s Five Factors for Establishing RFOA

[Go here for Considerations 1 and 2.] Consideration #3—Employer Limited Supervisor’s Discretion This considers the extent to which the employer limited supervisors’ discretion to assess employees subjectively, particularly where the criteria that the supervisors were asked to evaluate are known to be subject to negative age-based stereotypes. EEOC recognizes that in many cases to it […]

Business Necessity No, RFOA Yes (Age Discrimination)

EEOC released its Final Rule on Disparate Impact and “Reasonable Factors Other Than Age” Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 in March and it became effective April 30. EEOC also published an informative Q&A on which this article is based. ADEA and Disparate Impact ADEA prohibits two types of discrimination against workers […]

Can You Explore Employees’ Personal Devices at Work?

Legality of Accessing Personal Devices Your company can manage the risks associated with BYOD by adopting policies and agreements that fit your risk tolerance, trust assessment, and regulatory context, says Chapman, who is an associate with DiMuroGinsberg in Alexandria, Virginia and a contributor to Virginia Employment Law Letter. However, she adds, the only way to […]

Wendy’s In Hot Water After Turning Away Cook With Disabilities

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing a Killeen, Texas branch of the fast food franchise Wendy’s for turning down a job applicant because he is hearing-impaired. The EEOC charges in its suit that the restaurant’s general manager refused to hire Michael Harrison, Jr. for a cooker position, despite his qualifications and experience, upon learning that […]

Bill Would Lower Burden of Proof for Employees Bringing ADA, ADEA Claims

Lawmakers have introduced a bill that would lower the burden of proof for employees bringing disability and age discrimination claims. If passed, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (S. 2189) would change the laws’ “but for” standard to one allowing “mixed motives.” Both the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act […]

EEOC on the Lookout: Ensure Your Attendance Policies Are Legal

By Kelley E. Kaufman, Esq. These days, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is on the lookout for both inflexible leave of absence policies and no-fault attendance policies. While few employers welcome news of a targeted enforcement initiative, the best defense is a good offense. According to the EEOC, the Americans With Disabilities Act requires […]

In a Rare ADA Case Involving Bipolar Disorder, Worker Is Awarded $56K

A worker with bipolar disorder was awarded more than $56,000 after a federal district court found that his employer fired him because of his disability, in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The case is one of the first bipolar disorder suits the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has brought to trial. […]