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 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
By Linda C. Schoonmaker and Brian A. Wadsworth
Seyfarth Synopsis: The First Circuit recently sided with an employer in a disability discrimination suit in Trahan v. Wayfair Maine, Inc., Civil Action 19-1961.
The former employee plaintiff claimed that her employer discriminated against her when it terminated her employment and failed to honor her accommodation request after the employer
Continue Reading Too Little, Too Late: The First Circuit Finds For Employers in an Accommodation Request Made After The Termination Decision
By Funto P. Seton and Esteban Shardonofsky
Seyfarth Synopsis: The US Supreme Court has never directly decided and the federal courts of appeal have not reached a unanimous decision on whether the “but for” or “motivating factor” standard applies to retaliation claims under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). An interlocutory appeal recently taken from the federal court
Continue Reading “But For” or “Motivating Factor” Under the FMLA? The Fifth Circuit May Soon Clarify and Join the Circuit Split
By Louisa J. Johnson and James J. Swartz, Jr.
Seyfarth Synopsis: On April, 17, 2020, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Durham v. Rural/Metro Corp., No. 18-14687, considered a matter of first impression within the Circuit and became one of the first appellate courts to consider the following: who is deemed a valid comparator to a pregnant
Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Finds Comparator Evidence Requirement Less Stringent Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act
By Linda C. Schoonmaker and Brian A. Wadsworth
Seyfarth Synopsis: In affirming summary judgment in favor of the defendant in an Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) interference and retaliation case, the Fifth Circuit reinforced the importance of documenting performance issues and following internal policies. This case serves as a good reminder for employers to continue to document performance issues
Continue Reading Whew! Fifth Circuit Reinforces Importance of Documenting Performance Issues
By Sara Eber Fowler, Rhandi Childress Anderson, and Erin Dougherty Foley
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Labor issues an opinion letter clarifying that employers must promptly designate FMLA leave, regardless of the availability of paid leave.
What if an employee wanted to say “no thank you” to their FMLA rights, use their other available leave, thereby saving
Continue Reading It’s Not A Choice – The DOL Emphasizes That Employers Must Designate FMLA Leave When It Applies
By Megan P. Toth and Erin Dougherty Foley
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has recently published a Guide outlining pregnant employees’ civil rights under the Washington “Healthy Starts Act,” a law which became effective July 23, 2017.
Under the Healthy Starts Act, employers with at least 15 employees in the state of Washington
Continue Reading Washington State Releases Guide on Pregnancy Accommodations
By David J. Rowland and Megan P. Toth
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Eleventh Circuit is the next to find a long-term leave of absence is not a reasonable accommodation under the ADA.
Just a few months after a recent and definitive decision by the Seventh Circuit that multi-month leaves of absence, even those that are definite in term and sought
Continue Reading Long-Term Leave Under the ADA May Be Another Step Closer to Becoming a Thing of the Past
By Tracy M. Billows and Megan P. Toth
Seyfarth Synopsis: If your company provides parental leave benefits beyond what is required by law, it is important that the company’s policies and practices ensure male and female employees are being treated consistent with the prohibition of discrimination based on sex.
On August 30, 2017, the EEOC filed suit against Estée
Continue Reading EEOC Sues Estée Lauder Over Paid Parental Leave Policy