Now that school year has resumed, there are various legal obligations and issues relating to accommodation requests employers may receive from employees who are not able to work or telework. 

Dan Klein, Labor and Employment Partner in the Boston office, summarizes the current legal landscape under federal law regarding those accommodation requests that are legally required and those that are not.

This two-part episode was recorded on September 4, 2020.   Be sure to check for any changes in federal laws that may have gone into effect since this recording.  Various state or local laws or orders may be passed which may provide employees further protections which are not covered in this podcast.

Part I

In Part I of the episode, Dan summarizes legal obligations related to employees who request not to return to work onsite because they are immunocompromised, are pregnant and fear exposure, or are under federal, state, or physician-ordered isolation or quarantine orders.

Part II

In Part II of the episode, Dan summarizes legal obligations related to employees who request not to return to work onsite because someone in the employee's care is under federal, state, or physician-ordered isolation or quarantine orders, or employees who request not to return to work onsite due to childcare issues or because the employee is over the age of 65.

Listen to Part I and Part II on SoundCloud.

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Originally published by Seyfarth Shaw, October 2020

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.