Description
As workplace leave, accommodation, and disability laws continue to evolve, employers face heightened compliance risks when managing suspicious leave requests, accommodation misuse, intermittent absences, and questionable Workers’ Compensation claims. In 2026, the overlap between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Workers’ Compensation laws, and newer protections such as the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) has created a complex enforcement environment for HR and management teams.
This webinar provides a practical, legally focused framework for investigating potential abuse while maintaining compliance with federal and state employment laws. Attendees will gain insight into how recent EEOC enforcement trends, expanded accommodation expectations, stricter retaliation standards, and evolving leave protections are reshaping employer obligations in 2026.
Through real-world scenarios and actionable guidance, participants will learn how to identify red flags, document concerns, manage overlapping leave obligations, conduct compliant investigations, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to discrimination, interference, retaliation, or accommodation claims. Special emphasis will be placed on intermittent FMLA abuse, inconsistent medical certifications, remote-work accommodation challenges, attendance policy enforcement, light-duty disputes, and pregnancy-related accommodations under the PWFA.
Key Topics Covered
- Intersection of ADA, FMLA, Workers’ Compensation, and PWFA requirements
- 2026 EEOC and Department of Labor enforcement trends
- Identifying leave abuse, accommodation misuse, and suspicious claim patterns
- Managing intermittent FMLA leave and attendance concerns
- Legally compliant workplace investigations and documentation practices
- Medical certification challenges and fitness-for-duty evaluations
- Remote work, modified schedules, and evolving accommodation expectations
- Workers’ Compensation retaliation and return-to-work risks
- Pregnancy accommodation obligations under the PWFA
- Conducting the interactive process effectively
- Avoiding discrimination, interference, and retaliation claims
- Supervisory training and policy updates for 2026 compliance
Why This Webinar Matters
Federal agencies are intensifying scrutiny of employer leave and accommodation practices, particularly in areas such as pregnancy accommodations, attendance policies, forced leave decisions, and failures in the interactive process. Employers also face increasing complexity from state-level leave laws, pay transparency regulations, workplace privacy rules, and AI-driven compliance developments.
Organizations that rely on outdated policies or inconsistent investigation practices risk significant legal and financial exposure. This session equips employers with the tools to modernize compliance strategies while balancing operational needs with employee protections.
Who Should Attend
- HR Professionals
- Employee Relations Managers
- Payroll and Benefits Specialists
- Business Owners and Executives
- Operations and Compliance Managers
- Risk Management Professionals
- Employment Law Practitioners
- Supervisors and Department Managers
- Leave Administrators
- Safety and Workers’ Compensation Professionals
This webinar is designed for organizations seeking practical, legally sound guidance on managing complex employee leave and accommodation issues in today’s rapidly changing employment law landscape.
This Program has been approved for 
