The ADA Amendments, effective January 1, 2009, make it easier for employees to show a disability. Before the amendments, many ADA claims were thrown out of court on this issue. From now on, the focus instead will be on how well the employer assisted the possibly disabled employee. HR persons now must “re-learn” parts of the ADA. You can read a summary of the ADA changes here.
Effective January 16, 2009, the FMLA also has been expanded. It now covers leave to care for family members injured in active military duty or to assist a family member preparing to go on active military duty.
New FMLA regulations from the United States Department of Labor (DOL) expand employer notice obligations and otherwise significantly revise the details of FMLA compliance. It is time for your FMLA specialist to go back to FMLA school. You can read a summary of the FMLA changes here.
Here is a summary from the DOL
New FMLA forms are available here
You can see the new, required FMLA poster here
