Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) April 01, 2016
Signed into law in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sought to prohibit discrimination based on disability by requiring employers to make “reasonable accommodations” to employees with disabilities. With the passing of 2009’s Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), the scope and impact of the original Act was materially expanded: under the ADAAA provisions, fully 19 percent of working Americans may be classified as living with a disability.
United Benefit Advisors (UBA), in conjunction with Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, are hosting a webinar for human resource professionals, called “Managing Compliance in 2016 – FMLA Evolution, ADAAA Compliance, and Legislative Trends,” on Thursday, April 14, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. ET to 3:30 pm ET, that looks at how key elements of the regulatory landscape will impact employers and change the scope of their exposure.
These include the recent Supreme Court decision altering the scope of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); more than 135 federal, state and municipal leave laws; President Obama’s proposal to establish paid sick leave at the federal level; and proposals pending in 13 states for paid family leave. Of these, the ADAAA is currently the most significant as it broadened the definition of a disability and reinforced that leave is a qualified accommodation. This has made things very complicated for employers, since employees with health conditions who exhaust their leave under FMLA may now be entitled to extend their leave under the ADA/ADAAA.
“While FMLA sought to grant universal job protection that could be quantified, ADAAA has essentially superseded this and other legislation at the individual employee level,” says Cheryl Jez, a Regional Practice Leader for Reliance Standard. “The only means of successfully navigating today’s compliance environment is making sure a disciplined, interactive process takes place and, from there, appropriate decisions are made about accommodations. Expert guidance and perspective is key.”
Register for this complimentary webinar and enter discount code RSIUBA41416 to attend this webinar for free (a $50 value). This webinar has been submitted to the Human Resource Certification Institute to qualify for 1.5 recertification credit hours.
About the Presenter
Cheryl Jez is a Regional Practice Leader for Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, an industry leading employee benefits carrier, and sister company Matrix Absence Management. Cheryl joined Reliance Standard in 2005 and is responsible for the design, development and sale of Integrated Employee Benefits Programs. She also serves as a consultant to Fortune 1,000 employers on absence, productivity and compliance strategies that impact cost and improve results. Products include FMLA, Workers Compensation, STD and LTD management as well as ADA accommodation through their ADA Advantage® offering. Cheryl is based in Dallas, Texas, and is an insurance professional with over 25 years experience. Her expertise includes product development, claim management, implementation, account management and consultative sales. She specializes in integrated health and productivity programs, including the management of ADA, FMLA, Short and Long-term Disability, Workers Compensation and Health Care. Cheryl is primarily responsible for the Midwest and Southeast regions of the country.
About Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance Standard) is a leading insurance carrier specializing in innovative and flexible employee benefits solutions including disability income and group term life insurance, a suite of Voluntary employee paid coverage options and, with sister company Matrix Absence Management, fully integrated absence management programs. Reliance Standard markets these solutions through independent brokers and agents to employers of all sizes. Rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best, Reliance Standard celebrated its centennial year in 2006. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company provides insurance products and services in all states (except New York), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In New York, insurance products and services are provided through First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, home office: New York, N.Y. Product availability and features may vary by state. It distributes its products through independent agents and brokers. Both Reliance Standard and Matrix are members of the Tokio Marine Group. The Tokio Marine Group operates in the property and casualty insurance, reinsurance and life insurance sectors globally. The Group's main operating subsidiary, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (TMNF), was founded in 1879 and is the oldest and leading property and casualty insurer in Japan. For more information, visit http://www.reliancestandard.com or call (800) 351-7500.
ABOUT United Benefit Advisors®
United Benefit Advisors® (UBA) is the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory organization with more than 200 offices throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. UBA empowers more than 2,000 Partners to both maintain their individuality and pool their expertise, insight, and market presence to provide best-in-class services and solutions. Employers, advisors and industry-related organizations interested in obtaining powerful results from the shared wisdom of our Partners should visit http://www.UBAbenefits.com.
# # #