Employment Law Blog

Dogs and Horses and…Alligators? Oh My! How to Handle Service and Support Animals in the Workplace

Recently, a Philadelphia man made news when he and his “emotional support alligator” were denied entrance to the Phillies stadium. That decision may seem obvious, but in recent years, issues surrounding support and service animals have become more complicated, especially in the workplace. More >

New Year Brings New Federal Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees

At the end of December, Congress passed two bills that alter employers’ obligations to pregnant and nursing employees, with new standards that will be going into effect in 2023. The first of these bills is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which provides employees who are experiencing conditions arising from pregnancy or childbirth with the right to reasonable accommodations. The second is the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act, also known as the PUMP Act. While there are already federal requirements in place for employers to provide postpartum employees with nursing facilities meeting certain standards, the PUMP Act expands the coverage of those requirements to more types of employees. More >

Fourth Circuit Rules That Gender Dysphoria Is Not Excluded by ADA

Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that gender dysphoria is not to be excluded from the broad definition of “disability” laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This decision may signal a new direction for discrimination law, and employers should be aware of its impacts. More >

Because of Winn-Dixie—New DOJ Guidance for Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance

When most employers and business owners think of their obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), they think of reasonable accommodations for employees and accessibility in their physical public spaces, such as automatic doors or Braille. A recent decision from a federal appellate court and recent guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ), however, should cause business owners to also think about their accessibility in another kind of public space—the internet. More >

EEOC Updates Guidance on COVID-19 and ADA

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued updates providing guidance for employers in response to new developments and information. This week, the EEOC has issued a new technical assistance update, clarifying the circumstances under which the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Rehabilitation Act may be applied to COVID-19. More >

Long-Term COVID Effects May Qualify as a Disability under the ADA—What Employers Need to Know

For more on this subject, view our webinar, Myths, Masks, and Mandates: More Advice for the Continuing Workplace Challenges of COVID-19.

We are still learning more about the virus, including its long-term effects on those who have been infected. Because of the severity of these long-lasting symptoms, both the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently released guidance stating that “long COVID” may qualify as a disability under anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). An employer must remain aware of the long-term effects that COVID can have on its workforce and potential accommodations that its employees may need.  More >

UPDATED - EEOC Releases Guidance on ADA Issues and COVID-19 for Employers

In April 2020, the EEOC began publishing guidance for employers on how to comply with ADA and other anti-discrimination laws and regulations in the face of COVID-19.   More >

EEOC: Opioid Use by Employees May Require Reasonable Accommodation

On August 5, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance for employees regarding their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) if they use opioids, are addicted to opioids, or have been addicted in the past. Specifically, employees who are legally using opioids, including those who are or have been addicted, may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the ADA if the accommodation would allow them to do the job safely and effectively. More >