Tag: job descriptions

Violent Employees: Court Rules Employer Not Automatically Liable For Criminal Assault By Employee; 3-Point Lawsuit Prevention Checklist

Maria D. (as she was referred to in court documents) claimed that late one night as she drove along the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California, she was pulled over by an on-duty Westec Residential Security guard wearing a uniform and gun. The guard allegedly pointed a spotlight in her face, asked for her license, […]

Employee Lawsuits: The Latest Legal Risk When A Disabled Employee Wants To Return To Work; How To Avoid Getting Sued

It’s important to be extra careful when evaluating the abilities of an employee who was previously injured and wants to come back to work. Unless you carefully consider the individual’s current skills and recent medical reports, deciding that the worker can’t perform certain tasks can expose you to an expensive discrimination lawsuit for erroneously regarding […]

Managing Workers With Mental Disabilities: ADA May Protect Anxiety-Ridden Employees Who Can’t Interact With Others; Practical Approaches To Take

How do you deal with an employee who’s disruptive and can’t get along with co-workers? The obvious answer may be a warning or other discipline. But the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal says employees like these may have a mental disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and that instead of disciplining […]

ADA Accommodations: New Ruling Clarifies Employee And Employer Obligations, Protects Seniority Systems

Most employers know they need to seek a reasonable accommodation for disabled workers who are otherwise qualified to perform their jobs. But applying this rule to real-life situations can be complicated. What if an employee wants an accommodation that would require you to make an exception to your established seniority system? And how far do […]

Fitness-For-Duty Exams: Court OKs Them Even If Injured Workers Return With No Restrictions; Procedures To Implement Now

  Suppose you have an employee who is off work because of an injury. When the employee’s doctor gives them the green light to return without limitations, you may still be concerned that the person cannot do their job properly. So you ask the worker to first undergo a fitness-for-duty evaluation. If the employee refuses, […]