How are we supposed to keep it all straight when there are times when the legal requirements of both the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the American Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA) are similar, yet at other times one law contradicts another?
We find that we can’t comply with both laws at the same time, so which one takes precedence over the other?
And where does WC come in? To complicate matters, even more, WC is a state law, while FMLA and ADAAA are federal laws, and there are other state civil rights laws that also impact FMLA and the ADAAA. Consider that an injury under WC may also be a “serious health condition” under FMLA.
State laws may differ from federal laws by covering additional health conditions, may apply to small organizations, or may cover situations in which the federal laws have no say such as domestic abuse. As HR, we have the responsibility of sifting through these laws to ensure that we comply with each law that provides the best benefit to our employees.
These laws provide entitlements to our employees which means they are not considered an optional benefit. So, even if you fail to apply the law to your employee, they can claim protection anyway. For example, if you fail to provide appropriate leave under FMLA, that does not remove the employee’s right to job-protected leave. The ultimate goal of all three laws is to assist the employee to return to work.
Ensuring compliance with FMLA can be frustrating for many HR professionals who are uncomfortable with the Act.
This leads to litigation. Then, adding the ADAAA legal requirements adds to the confusion which can also lead to discrimination under civil rights law. Sometimes sprinkled in with FMLA and the ADAAA is WC – the nexus among the three legal requirements, especially as it relates to leaving, medical certification, and getting the employee back to work as quickly as possible, can be daunting.
This webinar will separate the three laws and examine how each law applies to work situations.
The webinar addresses laws that HR is responsible for upholding. When the laws are not followed, it increases the liability for the organization and interferes with a fair and equitable work environment for employees. The complexity & interplay among the ADAAA, FMLA and Workers' Comp (WC) are confusing to many HR professionals and this webinar will help decipher the complexities.
This webinar is for all industries so identifying specific job titles is not realistic. That said, the following general job titles should attend:
CEOs, COOs, CFOs
Dr. Susan Strauss is a national and international speaker, trainer, consultant and a recognized expert investigator on workplace and school harassment and bullying. She conducts harassment and bullying investigations and functions as an expert witness in harassment and bullying lawsuits. Her clients are from business, education, healthcare, law, and government organizations from both the public and private sector.
Dr. Strauss also provides organizational, management, and employee development by conducting training, coaching, and facilitating workshops. She has been the Director of Training and Development and consults with a variety of organizations and industries, both large and small. Susan has also been the director of Wellness and has consulted with organizations to help them design, develop, implement and evaluate their Wellness programs.
Susan has a doctorate in organizational leadership. She is a registered nurse, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and counseling, a master’s degree in community health, and professional certificate in training and development. She has been involved in the harassment and bullying arena since 1985.