Homepage > ADA-American with Disabilities Act

ADA-American with Disabilities Act

06/27/2014 18:01

ADA- Americans with Disabilities Act

A law that makes it unlawful for an employer with 15 or more employees to discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. The ADA applies to a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (like walking, standing, or breathing). An individual with a disability must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without an accommodation, in order to be protected by the ADA.

Absenteeism

A policy that provides guidance within an organization about how to manage the state of chronic absence from work. Absenteeism is usually addressed through progressively stricter disciplinary measures that can result in the termination of the individual's employment. This is generally governed by the organization’s attendance policy.

Attendance

Policy The guidelines and expectations for employee attendance at work as defined, written, disseminated, and implemented by an organization.

Background Checking

The process of authenticating the information supplied to a potential employer by a job applicant in his or her resume, application, and interviews

Behavioral Interviews

A tool to identify candidates who have the behavioral traits and characteristics that you have selected as necessary for success in a particular job.

Bereavement Policy

A company’s practice regarding allowing paid and unpaid employee time off when a family member, relative, or friend dies. Bereavement time is granted for making funeral arrangements, attending the funeral and burial, paying respects to the family at a wake or visitation, dealing with the deceased’s possessions and will, and any ancillary matters that employees must address when a loved one dies.

Coaching

A method used by managers and supervisors to provide positive or constructive feedback to employees to help them continue excellent performance or identify ways to improve performance.

Counseling

A process of providing day-to-day feedback to employees about areas in which their performance at work can improve.

Discipline

A process for dealing with job-related behavior that does not meet expected and communicated performance standards.

Downsizing

To reduce the number of employees in an organization. Downsizing or lay-offs reduce the size of a work force. Used sparingly, and with planning, downsizing can be an organizational lifesaver, but when layoffs are used repeatedly without a thoughtful strategy, downsizing can destroy an organization's effectiveness. Also known as: reduction in force.

Dress Code for Business Casual

The Company's objective, in establishing a business casual dress code, is to enable employees to project a professional, business-like image while experiencing the advantages of more casual and relaxed clothing. Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code which is described in detail in the Business Casual Dress Code policy.

Drug-free Workplace

In a drug-free workplace, the employer has taken steps and initiated policies to ensure that employees are not taking or using alcohol or drugs, selling drugs, or affected by the after effects of indulging in alcohol or drugs outside of the workplace. The goal of a drug-free workplace program is to encourage an employee with a substance abuse problem to seek treatment, recover, and return to work.

Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9)

The form required by the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to document eligibility for employment in the United States. All employees, citizens and noncitizens, hired after November 6, 1986, must complete Section 1 of this form at the time of hire, which is the actual beginning of employment.

Exempt Employee

An employee who, because of his or her positional duties and responsibilities and level of decision making authority is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Fair Labor Standards Act

Enacted by the United States Congress in 1938, sets standards for the basic minimum wage and overtime pay. The FSLA also sets standards for recordkeeping and for child labor. The FLSA affects most private and public sector employment, including state, local, and federal government.

Family and Medical Leave Act

Requires covered employers to provide twelve weeks of unpaid leave to eligible employees within a 12-month period. The FMLA applies to private employers with 50 or more employees, and to all public employers. Learn the answers to several common questions you may have about the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Garnishment

A legal procedure in which a person’s earnings are required by court order to be withheld by an employer for the payment of a debt such as child support.

Independent Contractor

A person or a business that performs services, produces a particular outcome, or produces a product for a person or a business under a written or implied agreement or contract.

Induction

New employee orientation is the process for welcoming a new employee into your organization. New employee orientation, often spearheaded by a meeting with the Human Resources department, generally contains information about safety, the work environment, the new job description, benefits and eligibility, company culture, company history, and anything else relevant to working in the new company.

Interview

There are screening interviews and hiring or selection interviews. Screening interviews qualify a candidate before he meets with a hiring authority for possible selection. Hiring interviews allow the employer to assess the fit of the candidate. The candidate also interviews the employer for job suitability. Most of these interviews take place in an office setting one-on-one or in a small group.

Job Descriptions

Effectively developed, job descriptions are communication tools that are significant in your organization's success. Poorly written job descriptions, on the other hand, add to workplace confusion and hurt communication. Here's why effective job descriptions are so important.

Job Offer Letter

A document that confirms the details of an offer of employment. The job offer letter includes details such as job description, reporting relationship, salary, bonus potential, benefits, and more. The job offer letter generally confirms the terms …

Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $5.85 an hour. The federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Many states also have minimum wage laws.

New Employee Orientation

The process for welcoming a new employee into your organization. New employee orientation, often spearheaded by a meeting with the Human Resources department, generally contains information about safety, the work environment, the new job description, benefits and eligibility, company culture, company history, and anything else relevant to working in the new company.

Non-exempt Employee

An employee who, because of the type of duties performed, the usual level of decision making authority, and the method of compensation, is subject to all FLSA provisions.

Open Door Policy

An open door policy means, literally, that every manager's door is open to every employee. The purpose of an open door policy is to encourage open communication, feedback, and discussion about any matter of importance to an employee.

Outsourcing

Outsourcing is paying a second party to perform one or more of your internal processes or functions. Business process outsourcing of certain functions is an increasingly popular way to improve basic services while allowing HR professionals time to play a more strategic role in their organizations. Frequently outsourced: payroll, 401(k) administration, employee assistance, and retirement planning.

Personnel File Access Policy

All employees, former employees, and representatives of employees may view certain documents from their personnel file with advance notice to Human Resources staff. Documents that relate to the employee's qualifications for hire may be viewed. Documents that may not be reviewed are also described.

Recognition

Recognition is providing attention or favorable notice to another person. Recognition can be written, verbal, or monetary. In the workplace, the second purpose for employee recognition is to communicate and reinforce the behaviors and actions you'd like to see the employee do more often.

Recruiter

Recruiters are employed by a company for the purpose of finding and qualifying new employees for the organization. Third party recruiters are subcontracted to by a company for the same purpose. Several different types of third party recruiters exist, but the main difference between them lies in how they are compensated, up front or by a company-paid percentage of the hired person's first year pay.

Screening Interview

Screening interviews are used to qualify a candidate before he or she meets with a hiring authority for possible selection. Screening interviews are usually quick, efficient and low cost strategies that result in a short list of qualified candidates. These interviews save time and money by eliminating unqualified candidates via phone or email.

Severance Pay

Money that an employer might want to provide for an employee who is leaving their employ. Normal circumstances that might warrant severance pay include layoffs, job elimination, and mutual agreement to part ways for whatever reason. Severance pay usually amounts to a week or two of pay for each year of service to the company. In some instances, a severance package might include extended benefits and outplacement assistance.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment occurs when one employee makes continued, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, to another employee, against his or her wishes.

Succession Planning

Succession planning is a process whereby an organization ensures that employees are recruited and developed to fill each key role within the company. Succession planning ensures you can fill key roles from within your organization.

360 Degree Feedback

360 degree feedback is a method and a tool that provides each employee the opportunity to receive performance feedback from his or her supervisor and four to eight peers, reporting staff members, co-workers and customers.

Unemployment Compensation

Created by the Social Security Act of 1935 to protect workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own. The federal government provides incentives and guidelines to the states about unemployment compensation, but each state is responsible for its own guidelines and program for unemployment compensation.

Wage Garnishment