Many of us are familiar with the idea of a dog serving as a service animal, but people in the state of Washington currently have a greater array when it comes to picking out a helpful animal. Under the state's current law monkeys, parrots, snakes, ferrets, lizards and...
Month: February 2011
United States lags in paid leave for family support
According to a report created by Human Rights Watch, the United States lags behind 178 other countries that have mandatory paid time off after childbirth. While the United States does have the Family Medical Leave Act, the federal law only offers unpaid leave rights...
Hard to navigate wintry Madison in a wheelchair
Even though the city of Madison, Wisconsin does a good job of complying with big ticket components of the Americans with Disabilities Act like mainline bus accessibility, wheelchair users say getting around the city in the winter is a strenuous activity. The...
Proposed Wisconsin budget may change state’s FMLA
The new governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, recently announced a proposed state budget that may change the state's Family Medical Leave Act. The controversial budget proposal has other labor law implications as well such as the ability of public employees to retain...
Teenager died because of FLSA violation
Over the last year more grain bin workers in the United States have been killed in grain entrapments than at any other time since records were first kept in 1978. Safety violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have also increased regarding...
Pilot wins back long-term disability benefits
The 3rd United States Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that American Airlines improperly terminated the long-term disability benefits of a former pilot. The airline pilot experienced a psychotic episode and was no longer able to fly after the episode. Observers...
Disabled and living in nursing home sue for alternative housing
Three disabled men who live in a nursing home have filed a class action suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act and claim that the state of Maine has filed violated their rights by not providing an alternative housing situation. The suit now has as many as 40...
Recession created unexpected results in short and long-term disability claims
The recession created unexpected results in short and long-term disability claims in 2009 according to the Employer Measure of Productivity, Absence and Quality annual survey. Business owners in the United States saw fewer claims for short-term and long-term...