No one likes summer homework, but due to passage of several recent pieces of legislation, employers should consider giving their employee handbooks a summer refresh.  Here’s a rundown of four new laws that could merit updates: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: The PWFA, which went into effect June 27, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations […]

Don’t let the prevalence of generous parental leave policies and cozy lactation rooms cause you to think pregnancy discrimination claims are a thing of the past.  A recent survey showed that 1 in 5 mothers feel that they have experienced pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. Furthermore, nearly 1 in 4 mothers report that they have […]

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act goes into effect June 27, 2023 and requires employers to provide accommodations to pregnant employees. Miller Johnson attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey explain the changes and what employees need to do to prepare. You can also listen to this and future episodes by subscribing to the “Lawyers Off the […]

Miller Johnson attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey discuss laws that prevent companies from punishing employees to who test positive for marijuana as well as how employers should handle ADA requests related to marijuana. You can also listen to this and future episodes by subscribing to the “Lawyers Off the Clock” podcast on: Apple Podcasts […]

On May 12, 2022, Michigan passed Public Act 75 of 2022 (the “Act”). This Act amended Michigan’s Penal Code to require places of public accommodation to modify their policies, practices, and procedures to permit the use of a service animal in training. Previously, only service animals themselves were required to be accommodated under Michigan law. […]

Miller Johnson attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey walk through how employee requests to bring their pets to work should be handled and some creative solutions to deal with the desire for animals in the workplace. You can also listen to this and future episodes by subscribing to “The Lawyers Off the Clock” podcast on: […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many workplace cultures. One unexpected impact is the rise of requests to bring animals to work. According to the Washington Post, nearly 1 in 5 American households nationwide adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees who were recently working from home may now request to bring their animals to […]

Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit released its decision in Perez v. Sturgis Pub. Schools, No. 20-1076, a case involving a student’s claim for relief under both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The case solidifies the importance of the requirement […]

In a recent unpublished case, Storck v. Washtenaw Indep. Sch. Dist., the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a case involving a wheelchair‑bound student, Ivan Williams, Jr., who suffered an injury while at school.  While being unloaded from the bus after a school trip, the assistant working with Williams placed the wheelchair toward an […]

The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit delivered an opinion earlier this month in a case concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Kirilenko-Ison, et al. v. Bd of Ed. Danville Indep. Sch., No. 19-5767, 2020 WL 5269818 (6th Cir. Sept. 4, 2020).    The case involved two nurses, Bauder-Smith and Kirilenko-Ison, who […]