Final Module on Employment Discrimination Law

Overview of the Final Module

• This is the last module of the course on the law of employment discrimination.
• Focus on summarizing best practices in addressing employment discrimination claims.

Recap of Previous Module

• Previous discussions centered on disability discrimination.
  • Emphasis on reasonable accommodation and its importance in employment law.
  • Comparison of reasonable accommodation standards for disability and religious discrimination.
  • Examined cases:
  • US vs. Barnett: Explored the interplay between seniority systems and reasonable accommodation.
  • Rowan Case: Insights on the process for seeking accommodation.

Key Concepts Discussed

• Direct Threat: Legal definition required for employers to defend actions against accommodations.
• Disparate Impact: Covered provisions of the ADA, particularly medical examination limitations.
• GINA Protections: Complementary management alongside the ADA to protect against discrimination.

Focus of Final Module

• Discussing best practices in the realm of employment discrimination.
• Importance of best practices for:
  • Preventing litigation before it arises.
  • Responding effectively to claims of discrimination.
  • Handling employee disclosures regarding discrimination concerns.

Special Emphasis

• Training on how management should respond when discrimination concerns are raised.
• Points of application for best practices throughout the discrimination claim process.

Practical Application: Self-Assessment

• Introduction of a self-assessment practice exam:
  • Practice exam designed to evaluate understanding of course material.
  • Recommendations for taking the exam:
  • Simulate a closed book environment for one hour.
  • Recognize that the exam won’t cover every aspect studied in the course.
• Self-assessment helps evaluate knowledge and instincts regarding the material covered.

Conclusion

• The focus is on bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application as the course concludes.
• Encourage productive engagement with the material as the semester progresses into the final stretch.