While, on one hand, generosity with affording sick leave time is a good business practice (after all, a healthy workforce is a productive workforce), on the other hand, unanticipated call-offs can be costly and disruptive to an organization, particularly when certain employees are chronically absent. In our experience, chronic absenteeism has a direct impact on employee morale and productivity, … [Read more...] about Managing Employee Absenteeism: What To Do When Your Employees Are Absent Or Late With the Winter Blues
What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part One
There are two distinct issues that couples who have Stored Genetic Material must ask themselves: (1) What happens to our Stored Genetic Material if we someday divorce or encounter other family law proceedings? (2) What happens to our Stored Genetic Material upon our death? For purposes of this discussion, Stored Genetic Material refers to cryopreserved embryos, eggs or sperm. The potential issues … [Read more...] about What Happens to Stored Genetic Material? Part One
PDE Issues New BEC to Provide Guidance for Schools on One-to-One Support: District Payor of Last Resort
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has issued a new BEC on one-to-one support that makes clear that if a student needs this service, it must be in the IEP, and that the school entity has final responsibility to provide this service and is the payor of last resort. Ensuring Appropriate Services PDE has issued a new BEC on the issue of one-to-one support for special education students … [Read more...] about PDE Issues New BEC to Provide Guidance for Schools on One-to-One Support: District Payor of Last Resort
Third Circuit Decision Opens Floodgates of Unlimited Liability for Compensatory Education
In a matter of first impression among Courts of Appeals, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has finally settled a long dispute over how to interpret the two-year statute of limitations created under the IDEA in 2004. As discussed below, in the case of G.L. v. Ligonier Valley School District Authority, No. 14-1387 (3d Cir. 2015) the Court found the following: (1) The IDEA statute of limitations … [Read more...] about Third Circuit Decision Opens Floodgates of Unlimited Liability for Compensatory Education
In An ADA Claim, Could Declining Performance Be a Manifestation of a Disability?
A recent case calls attention to this question, of interest to all employers. In the case of Aptaker v. Bucks County Intermediate Unit, No. 14-225 (E.D.Pa. 2015), a special education teacher filed suit after she was fired asserting a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Following the teacher’s disclosure to her employer that she suffered from depression, she “was subjected to … [Read more...] about In An ADA Claim, Could Declining Performance Be a Manifestation of a Disability?
More Reasons for Correcting the Birth Certificate
In continuation of our last piece on Birth Certificates (heARTbeat June 11, 2015), we discussed Pre-Birth Orders and their importance in demonstrating parentage. A Pre-Birth Order is an order that allows you to place the Intended Parents on the birth certificate when the baby is born. In some Pennsylvania counties, Pre-Birth Orders have been issued for same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples … [Read more...] about More Reasons for Correcting the Birth Certificate
