Essential Functions › Hiring & Firing

Employer’s Judgment About What Constitutes an Essential Job Function Carries Substantial Weight

Is being licensed to drive a commercial vehicle an “essential function” of a warehouse manager’s position, even though that manager rarely is required to drive? According to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, that answer...more

California Employer Should Have Engaged In Interactive Process Before Firing Employee

Prock v. Tamura Corp. of America, No. E054185 (January 25, 2013): In an unpublished opinion, a California Court of Appeal recently overturned the dismissal of a lawsuit where the employee was fired while on a leave of absence...more

Disability Discrimination Claim Failed Where Employee Admitted Her Disability Made It Impossible For Her To Fulfill Her Job Duties

An employee brought a lawsuit against her employer claiming disability discrimination after she was terminated from her employment. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the employee could not...more

An Indefinite Exemption From The Essential Functions Of A Job Is Not A Reasonable Accommodation Under The ADA

An issue that confounds employers on a regular basis is whether the discharge of an employee who is unable to return to work after a medical leave will violate the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Most employers...more