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ADA

Don’t probe applicants about their HIV status

11/01/2004

Q. Is it legal to ask applicants medical questions, specifically, if they have HIV? Does the law allow any legal exceptions to ask this question of people applying for food-handling positions?” —S.S., California

How must you accommodate people with epilepsy?

10/01/2004
About 2.3 million Americans have some form of epilepsy, which causes occasional seizures.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission just published a new fact sheet that explains whether epilepsy is considered …

Review past practices to judge FMLA leave request

10/01/2004

Q. We’re a 24/7 office. Some employees rotate shifts, but our night employees typically work the same shift. After one of our employees gave birth, she asked to be placed on the night shift. We granted her request, but now she says medical reasons require her to be off for five days in a row. We put her back into the regular shift rotation, but she claims her FMLA rights are being violated and wants all employees to rotate shifts, even the night employees. Do we have to do this? —M.L., Ohio

Warn managers: Never disclose ex-employees’ medical data

10/01/2004
Issue: Former employees can sue if your managers blab about employees’ medical conditions to prospective employers. Risk: Ex-employees can file Americans …

Disabled staff? No need to revamp their jobs

10/01/2004
Issue: How far must you go to offer disabled employees a “reasonable accommodation” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? Benefit: ADA doesn’t …

You can ban outsiders from ADA accommodation talks

10/01/2004
When you’re trying to work out job accommodations with disabled employees, they may ask to bring others into the discussion. Must you allow this? No, according …

Don’t fire employee because of family’s high health costs

09/01/2004
With health insurance costs soaring, employers may be tempted to make hiring/firing decisions based on whether a person is a drain on the organization’s health costs. Our advice: Don’t even think …

Remodeling or building? Heed new ADA access rules

09/01/2004
Is your organization planning to build or remodel its stores, offices or facilities that serve the public? If so, review new construction guidelines published last month that explain how far you …

Heed new disability-access rules on building remodeling

09/01/2004
Issue: New federal rules say how far your organization must go to make its property accessible to disabled staff and customers. Risk: Ignoring the rules …

Accommodate disabled workers, but don’t alter main job functions

08/01/2004
When employees request job accommodations for their disabilities, you must interact with them to find reasonable modifications. But it’s important to know how far your organization must stretch the job to …