Kutak Rock attorneys Marcia Washkuhn and Kate Jones recently authored the article, “Handbook Hot Topics: Shifting Worker Accommodation Rules” for Law360.

In the article, Marcia and Kate discuss recent changes to workplace accommodation requirements, including those resulting from the new presidential administration, and the value of updating accommodation policies in employee handbooks to help navigate the ever-shifting terrain of workplace accommodations. Topics covered include:

• An overview of federal accommodation laws
• Changes since Trump took office
• Employee handbook recommendations based on recent developments:
  • Procedures for requesting accommodations
  • Treating disability, religious and pregnancy-related accommodation requests differently
  • Defining “reasonable accommodation
  • Dress code flexibility
  • Consistency across policies
  • Nonretaliation provisions

Click here to view a PDF of this article. (Shared with permission)

With over 29 years of experience as a labor and employment attorney, Marcia represents public and private employers in all aspects of employment law, including providing advice and counseling on compliance and risk management issues, drafting and reviewing employment agreements and policies, and defending employers in administrative, litigation and arbitration matters across the county. She chairs the firm’s National Employment Group, leads the Omaha Employment Group and serves as Kutak Rock’s in-house employment counsel.

Kate represents employers in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. She defends employers against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge and breach of contract claims. In addition to her employment litigation experience, she represents clients in connection with administrative proceedings, including those involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state fair employment agencies. Outside the litigation context, Kate counsels clients on day-to-day personnel issues.