Over the next 11 business days, I'll have a series of short posts addressing common questions that employers have about the law. If there is an "FAQ" that you would like for me to address, please let me know in the comments box (see Constangy site for box).

I may also have more in-depth postings as circumstances warrant.

Employer FAQ No. 1: "What exactly is the interactive process?"

The quick answer is this: The "interactive process" is simply an employer's sitting down with an employee who needs a reasonable accommodation and discussing options, directly with the employee. The "sit-down" can be a literal in-person meeting, or it can be done through phone calls, letters, or emails - the main point is that it should be directly between the employer representative and the employee.

(In-person is obviously preferable but may not be possible with an employee who is on a medical leave, or who works in a remote location.)