By Joshua A. Rodine and Katie Farr

Seyfarth Synopsis: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s decision that “but-for” is the proper causation standard for FMLA retaliation claims addressed within the burden-shifting framework. The Eleventh Circuit’s decision acknowledges that it potentially creates a Circuit split over the threshold a plaintiff must meet

Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Holds FMLA Retaliation Requires “But-for” Showing

By Daniel B. KleinAriel CudkowiczChristina Duszlak, and Jean M. Wilson

Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective November 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law will allow employees to supplement (i.e. “top off”) benefits received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with any available accrued paid leave (e.g., sick time, vacation, PTO, personal time, etc.). 

Continue Reading Important Change to Massachusetts PFML Law: Employees May Supplement (Top Off) PFML Benefits with Vacation, PTO, and Sick Time

By Linda C. Schoonmaker and Elizabeth L. Humphrey

Seyfarth Synopsis: Hospitals spend copious amounts of time developing hiring systems to ensure that the most-qualified applicants are selected for jobs in the healthcare field. The lives of millions of Americans depend on a hospital’s ability to provide access to knowledgeable healthcare providers, which ensures excellence in patient care. EEOC v. Methodist

Continue Reading Hospital’s Most-Qualified Applicant Policy Hangs in the Balance in Wake of EEOC Appeal of ADA Mandatory Reassignment Claim, Fifth Circuit Says

By Alex J. Reganata and Daniel B. Klein

Seyfarth synopsis: Husband and Wife worked for the same employer, and both took FMLA leave for periodic flare-ups of their respective serious health conditions. The outside FMLA administrator notified the employer that Husband and Wife had frequently taken overlapping periods of FMLA leave. Under the employer’s FMLA policy, providing false or misleading

Continue Reading In Sickness And In Health: Seventh Circuit Clarifies Evidentiary Standard Required To  Discipline Employees For Abusing FMLA Leave

By Saman Haque and Ellen E. McLaughlin

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a recent ruling, Roberts v. Gestamp (Decided August 15, 2022), the Fourth Circuit reversed, in part, the lower court’s decision to grant the Company’s motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the employee did not follow the Company’s “usual and customary” absence notice procedures as required by the Family
Continue Reading How A Facebook Messenger Chat Can Become a “Usual and Customary” FMLA Notice Procedure For a Company

By Adam R. YoungA. Scott Hecker, Patrick D. Joyce, Mark A. Lies, II, James L. CurtisBrent I. Clark, and Craig B. Simonsen

Seyfarth Synopsis: The WHO and the CDC issued statements and FAQs on the monkeypox disease, declaring the disease a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”

On July 23, 2022, the
Continue Reading WHO Declares Monkeypox Disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

By Gillian B. LeporeMeg Toth, and Sara Eber Fowler

Seyfarth Synopsis: Illinois recently amended its Child Bereavement Leave Act to expand the reasons for leave, including miscarriage and stillbirth, and adds additional covered family members.  The law will now be called the “Family Bereavement Leave Act” and goes into effect on January 1, 2023. 

On June 9,
Continue Reading Illinois Expands Its Bereavement Leave Act

By Cary Reid Burke and Stan Hill

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently provided several reminders to employers regarding their obligations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), in vacating summary judgment for the employer in Ramji v. Hospital Housekeeping Systems, Inc., Case No. 19-13461 (11th Cir. April 6, 2021).

First, an employer cannot get
Continue Reading 11th Circuit to Employers: Heed Your FMLA Obligations

By Romtin Parvaresh and Daniel C. Whang

Seyfarth Synopsis: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently became the seventh federal appellate court to hold that the standard for “willful” violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act is whether the employer knows or shows reckless disregard for whether its conduct violates the FMLA.

The Ninth Circuit’s
Continue Reading Majority of Federal Courts Now Agree on Standard for Willful Violations of FMLA

By Nolan R. Theurer and Andrew M. McNaught

Seyfarth Synopsis: On August 18, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment on a plaintiff’s associational disability discrimination and retaliation claims, finding the plaintiff failed to support his allegations with sufficient evidence. The decision prevents plaintiffs with associational discrimination claims from relying on unsupported allegations of
Continue Reading 7th Circuit Focuses On Evidence To Avoid Distraction In Associational Discrimination Case