A California Court of Appeals’ decision regarding a wrongful termination claim and disability discrimination has a warning for employers: Be cautious when you apply a termination policy to a newly disabled employee. You’d better be certain that you’ve done everything necessary to make reasonable accommodations for the…
Some people just seem to have it all together. They can easily plan a project at work from start to finish, are organized, efficient and self-directed. People with executive dysfunction can only dream of doing the same. Executive functioning issues can occur on their own or as…
There are plenty of people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who can function fairly well in the workplace — although some need reasonable accommodations to better manage their neurodivergent condition at work. If you have an ASD, you should understand your rights under the Americans with…
When you have a disability — whether visible or not — you become consciously aware of just how much “ableism” there is around you. What’s ableism? It’s a form of prejudice against people with disabilities. In many ways, ableism is ingrained in American culture in ways that…
Mental health issues are very common. However, many people still don’t realize that their mental health conditions are entitled to the same workplace protections that physical disabilities are accorded through the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has…
“Ableism” is a form of disability discrimination — but it’s so culturally ingrained that it’s often hard to combat. Ableism is anything that devalues someone based on their disability — whether that disability is visible or not. Here are some examples of ableism in the workplace: Having…
A disability can strike anyone, at any age. In fact, it’s estimated that around 40 million Americans struggle with some form of mental or physical disability. Many of those people are working despite their impairments — but they don’t always have an easy time finding acceptance in…
People with disabilities enjoy certain workplace protections — but is obesity really a disability in California? Actually, it depends. An appellate court’s ruling on a recent case laid out the conditions under which obesity can be considered a disability. Employers need to take note and adjust their…
Some disabilities are obvious to the world — while others are very much “hidden” conditions that observers can’t automatically discern just by looking at someone. Psychiatric disabilities often fall into that category of “hidden” conditions. Consequently, the people who suffer from them are often uncertain about when…
Is it illegal for an employer to fire you while you’re sidelined from the job due to an illness or injury? Unfortunately, no. At least, not exactly. Your disability doesn’t protect you against all causes for termination. Generally speaking, your employer can let you go for any…
