Tag: disability

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Listen Closely! 5th Circuit Court Hears Stuttering Employee’s ADA Claims

In a recent decision, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas—addressed claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by an employee who had a noticeable stutter. The employee alleged his employers failed to accommodate his disability and subjected him to a hostile work environment.

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ADA: When Is a Transfer a Reasonable Accommodation?

Massachusetts Gen. L. Ch. 151B is the state statute that prohibits discrimination based on disability, and the interpretation of that statute sometimes differs from the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One area where the two statutes diverge is an employer’s obligation to transfer an employee to a vacant position.

disability insurance

Update Your Disability Benefits Claims and Appeals Procedures Before 2018 Deadline

HR employees typically begin planning for next year before autumn of the current year because choices about the next year’s benefits are made months before it begins. Whether you’re making many or few changes to the benefits you offer, your preparations for open enrollment provide a good opportunity to confirm that your benefits plans are […]

nurse

Dispute Over Job Requirements Defeats Summary Judgment on Disability Discrimination Claim

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently permitted a disabled nurse to proceed to trial on her claim that the termination of her employment constituted disability discrimination. The court based its decision on a factual dispute over the physical requirements of the nurse’s job, her employer’s apparent failure to consider potential accommodations for her disability, and […]

service snake

Service Animals Gone Wild: Bring Your Boa Constrictor to Work Day

Employees with qualifying disabilities may rely on a service and/or emotional support animal for a variety of reasons, and allowing them to do so at work may be considered a “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), provided the task performed by the animal is needed in the workplace, it’s directly related to […]

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Off the Hook for ADA Discrimination Claim? Not So Fast, Says Texas Court

I know this sounds like a contradiction, but a Dallas court recently said it wasn’t. So, a Texas employer can be cleared of firing an employee because of his disability—despite the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)—but still be liable for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation. The Dallas office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission […]

disability

Iowa Court Decision Blurs Definition of Disability in Workers’ Comp Cases

A recent decision from the Iowa Court of Appeals should cause Iowa employers to hit pause on routine decisions relating to workers’ compensation claimants. The decision, Vetter v. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, effectively dismantled the definition of “disability” for disability discrimination claims.