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Workers' Comp, FMLA, and ADA Overlap: Navigating the Bermuda Triangle of Employee Leave Laws; Pitfalls to Avoid

Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Conducted on Friday, September 13, 2024

Recorded event now available

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This CLE webinar will guide practitioners through the "Bermuda Triangle" of leave laws--workers' compensation, FMLA, and ADA--discussing the leave requirements under each and how they overlap. The panel will address how to help clients navigate what may be conflicting requirements when employees become injured on the job and require leave.

Description

Commonly referred to as the "Bermuda Triangle" of leave laws, the overlap between workers' compensation, FMLA, and ADA can result in confusion for employers and pose a significant risk of discrimination/retaliation claims given the difficulty of navigating each law's requirements related to an employee's leave rights when injured on the job. Many employers mistakenly rely on workers' compensation alone to dictate whether and for how long an employee may take leave and are unaware that they may be subject to FMLA and ADA requirements as well.

Counsel must be able to lead their clients through the laws' leave requirements so that they understand where the laws overlap to ensure compliance and avoid discrimination/retaliation claims. Counsel must also understand where the laws may conflict with each other and how to best advise their clients so as to mitigate the risk of enforcement action.

Listen as our expert panel provides an overview of workers' comp, FMLA, and ADA leave frameworks and when employers are required to provide leave to eligible employees who have been injured in the workplace. The panel will discuss the interaction between the laws and address how to advise clients when the laws' requirements conflict.

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Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. Legal framework (covered employers, eligible employees, leave entitlement)
    1. Workers' comp
    2. FMLA
    3. ADA
  3. Where the laws overlap
    1. Triggering events
    2. Documentation requirements
    3. Workplace injury as disability and/or serious health condition
    4. Notice requirements
    5. Leave vs. light duty or other accommodation
    6. Possible conflicts
  4. Case studies
  5. State/local leave law considerations
  6. Practitioner takeaways

Benefits

The panel will review these and other important considerations:

  • Under what circumstances should counsel and their clients examine leave requirements under workers' comp, FMLA, and ADA?
  • When may an employee be entitled to leave under workers' comp? FMLA? ADA?
  • When may an employee's work-related injury be considered a serious health condition? A disability?
  • In what significant areas do the laws overlap?
  • When may the laws have conflicting requirements, and how can counsel best guide their clients to minimize the risk of enforcement action?
  • What state/local leave considerations should counsel be aware of?

Faculty

Fant, Laura
Laura M. Fant

Special Employment Law Counsel
Proskauer Rose

Ms. Fant frequently counsels on employee leave and accommodation matters involving the Americans with Disabilities Act,...  |  Read More

Jackson, Vincent
Vincent Jackson

Attorney
Kollman & Saucier

Mr. Jackson represents clients in a broad array of commercial and employment-related matters. Prior to...  |  Read More

Zwisler, David
David L. Zwisler

Shareholder
Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart

Mr. Zwisler’s broad range of labor and employment experience includes overseeing and conducting comprehensive...  |  Read More

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