When an employee’s disability poses a threat to themselves or others, can their condition be accommodated? Generally, no; to quote the EEOC, “the ADA permits an employer to require that an individual not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others in the workplace.” But what constitutes a “direct threat” under…
It bears repeating that when an employer is faced with an ADA accommodation request, it’s extremely important to engage in the interactive process and do it well. Why? Take this recent settlement of a case brought by the EEOC concerning an outpatient surgery center in Virginia. In EEOC v. Northern Virginia Surgery Center, the plaintiff,…
For HR and benefits teams looking to increase employee engagement with the valuable, often life-changing mental health and well-being resources, there’s a variety of options. Interestingly, in a recent analysis of ComPsych’s book of business and ongoing discussions with customers, we found that introducing Well-Being Coaching was a game changer. In fact, an analysis of…
During our coaching sessions, clients often ask “do we have to offer a disabled employee a different position if she can no longer perform her essential job duties?” This is quite a hot-button topic for the courts and a vexing issue for employers. That is because, over the years, the courts have split over whether…
Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, all humans are highly attuned to the 24-hour cycle of sunlight and darkness. This internal body clock – also known as a person’s “circadian rhythm” – is crucially important to overall well-being. It may be obvious that circadian rhythm impacts our sleep/wake cycles and when we…
It’s no surprise that the holidays are an incredibly stressful time for those in the retail industry. In fact, data from the National Retail Federation shows that roughly 17% of annual retail sales occur in November and December – with this number jumping even higher (more than 26%) for specific retailers such as toy and…
Since our founding by Dr. Richard Chaifetz in 1984, ComPysch has come a long way. From expanding to international service in 1989, to introducing Work-Life services in 1998, creating FMLASource in 2000, and adding health and wellness services in 2005, rolling out ADA coaching in 2012, launching well-being coaching in 2021 to our upcoming reimagined…