10.2190/JU0K-B9NR-8FRE-U4K4 JU0KB9NR8FREU4K4 297 THE LAW AND ASTHMA PROBLEMS IN THE WORKPLACE: WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW 297 307 20021107 20021107 20021107 20021107 JU0KB9NR8FREU4K4.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=JU0KB9NR8FREU4K4 4 EARL INGRAM, PH.D. HENRY FINDLEY, PH.D. Troy State University, Alabama Asthma is a growing societal and industrial problem in the United States. Asthmatic employees cause many disruptions and lost productivity in the workplace due to their unexpected and frequent absences. Should the problem persist employers will want to take actions such as progressive discipline to correct the situation. However, companies must be aware of the various legal pitfalls they will encounter along the way. Asthmatic workers are covered by various federal and state disability and family leave laws. This article discusses the ramifications of these laws primarily from a federal legal perspective (Americans with Disabilities Act and Family Medical Leave Act) when dealing with an asthmatic employee. Blandin v. Marriott International, 4:96 CVII 30-DIS (U.S. Dist. 1997). Stekloff v. St. John's Mercy Health Systems, 218 F.3d 858 (8th Cir. 2000). M. Haggerty, Occupational asthma. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine ed. Farmington Hills, Mich: Gale Research, 1999. Kennedy v. Applause, 90 F.3d 1477, 1481 (9th Cir. 1996). Peterson v. Slidell Memorial Hospital, 96-2487 (U.S. Eastern District of La. 1996). Morisky v. Broward County, 80 F.3d 445 (11th Cir. 1996). Nowak v. St. Rita High School, 142 F.3d 999, 1003 (7th Cir. 1998). Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama v. Garrett, 531 U.S., 356 (2001). C. Chase, Comparing the national economic burden of five chronic conditions. Health Affairs, 20(6), p. 23, November/December, 2001. Lori Rhoads v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 257 F.3d 373 (4th Cir. 2001). Muller v. Costello, 187 F.3d 298, 314 (2nd Cir 1999). Sutton v. United Airlines, 527 U.S.; 119 S. Ct 2139 (U.S., 1999). P. M. Owens, Employee Disabilities Needn't Impair Profits, Wall Street Journal, 233(109), p. A22, Monday, June 7, 1999. Sims v. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit Dist., 2 F. Supp 2d 1253 (N.D. Cal. 1998). Henderson v. New York Life, 991 F. Supp 527 (U.S. 1992). G. E. Jackson, Labor and Employment Law Desk Book (4th Edition), Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. Ed. "Asthma in America is out of control," says Glaxo Wellcome Study. Drug Store News, 22(4), p. 42, March 20, 2000. Corder v. Lucent Technologies, Inc., 162 F.3d 924, 928 (7th Cir. 1998). Sampson v. CitiBank, 53 F. Supp. 2d 13 (U.S. Dist. 1999). Gilbert v. Storage Technology Corporation, 98 F.3d 1349 (10th Cir. 1996). R. Voelker, Adult asthma is rising. JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, 284(6), Aug. 9, 2000, p. 686. Riemer v. Illinois Department of Transportation, 148 F.3d 800 (7th Cir. 1998). Crawford v. Union Carbide Corporation, 202 F.3d 257 (4th Cir. 1999). Cook v. State of Rhode Island, 10 F.3d 17 (1st Cir. 1993). Ventura v. City of Independence, 108 F.3d 1378 (6th Cir 1997). EEOC Regulations, 29cfr. Section 1630, 2000. Cassidy v. Detroit Edison Company, 138 F.3d 629 (6th Cir. 1998). Bolton v. Scrivner Inc., 36 F.3d 939, 942 (10th Cir. 1994). Oleson v. Kmart Corporation, 175 F.R.D. 570 (U.S. Dist. 1996). A. E. Roberts, FMLA Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, St. Paul, MN: A. E. Robert Co., 1997. Aiken v. Continental Airlines, 221 F.3d 1351 (10th Cir. 2000). Russell v. Clark County School District, 221 F.3d 1351 (9th Cir. 2000). Zamudio v. Patla, 956 F. Supp 803 (U.S. Dist. 1997). Morgan v. City and County of San Francisco, 202 F.3d 278 (9th Cir. 1999). Eckles v. Consolidated Corp, 94 F.3d 1041 (7th Cir. 1996). Yin v. State of Cal., 95 F.3d 864 (9th Cir. 1996). Jovanovic v. In-Sink-Erator Division of Emerson Electric Company, 201 F.3d 894 (7th Cir. 2000). Hedberg v. Indiana Bell Telephone Co. Inc., 47 F.3d 28 (7th Cir. 1995). Welsh v. City of Tulsa, 977 F.2d 1415, 1419 (10th Cir. 1992). Rascon v. U.S. West Communications, 143 F.3d 1324 (10th Cir. 1998). Rhoads v. FDIC, 956 F. Supp. 1239 (U.S Dist. 1997). Cehrs v. Northeast Ohio Alzheimer's Research Center, 155 F.3d 775 (6th Cir. 1998).