A recent jury verdict using the PWFA and awarding $22.5 million to an Ohio employee following the loss of her child during a high-risk pregnancy underscores the legal and operational risks employers face when accommodation processes break down. The employee,
ConnectBridge is seeing increased attention around how telework fits into the reasonable accommodation process. Recent guidance from the EEOC and OPM reinforces that, in the federal sector, telework may be considered a reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities. The FAQs
Paid time off policies are receiving increased regulatory attention, and enforcement is becoming more visible. ConnectBridge is noticing a growing trend that state and local governments are paying closer attention to whether employers are properly administering paid leave and PTO
Return to office mandates are expanding across industries, but many employers underestimate the operational impact on leave and accommodation management. At ConnectBridge, we’re seeing that RTO decisions quickly intersect with FMLA, ADA accommodations, intermittent leave, and other workplace policies. When
Pregnancy accommodation obligations remain a critical compliance priority, and potential EEOC rule changes in 2026 may reshape how requests are evaluated under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Regulatory shifts do not reduce employer risk; instead, they increase the need
New research highlighted by The HR Brew is a clear warning sign for employers: roughly half a million women left the U.S. workforce in 2025, and 42% of women who voluntarily exited cited caregiving responsibilities as the main driver. The
Employers are paying closer attention to intermittent FMLA, and so are juries. A recent CSX jury trial underscores a recurring challenge: suspected misuse must be handled carefully, consistently, and based on objective facts. The risk includes relying on assumptions, informal
Employers are facing renewed scrutiny over how ADA accommodations are evaluated, documented, and communicated. SHRM’s recent response to an ADA-related civil lawsuit underscores the reality that compliance risk often arises not from intent, but from inconsistent processes, unclear documentation, and
Yes, telemedicine can satisfy the FMLA’s “in-person visit” requirement if it meets the DOL’s criteria. A qualifying visit must: HR quick wins: How ConnectBridge helps: Capture visit details in one case file, flag non-qualifying “phone-only” contacts, and keep audit-ready timelines