Honigman labor attorneys host webinar for employers

 Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP’s Labor and Employment Department will host a webinar regarding what employers need to know about dealing with lawful prescription drug use in the workplace on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at noon. The presenters are Honigman Partner Cameron J. Evans, leader of the firm’s Employment Counseling and Strategic Workforce Planning, and Employment Litigation practice groups, and Partner Tara E. Mahoney.


Evans and Mahoney will discuss the U.S. Court of Appeals recent ruling on Bates v. Dura Automotive Systems, how it impacts employers handling of lawful prescription drug use in the workplace, and options for companies to consider when approaching their drug-testing policies and practices in light of the recent ruling.

Prescription drug abuse is a rapidly growing problem in the United States—one that, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has recently reached epidemic proportions. Use of impairing prescription drugs presents new challenges for employers trying to maintain safety in the workplace, particularly in a legal landscape fraught with uncertainty and potential liability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The recent Bates v. Dura decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals governing Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee indicates that employers may be able to address the issue without running afoul of the ADA, but gray areas remain.

To register for the webinar, visit http://honigmanlaborwebinar. eventbrite.com. Attendance is free of charge.

Evans is a nationally recognized employment attorney with extensive experience representing employers in state and federal courts, administrative agencies and private arbitrations in employment-related litigation, including class and collective action litigation. He has significant jury trial experience in both federal and state courts.

Mahoney possesses experience in counseling a wide range of employers on complex employment issues, including workplace harassment and discrimination, employment agreements and non-competition agreements, workplace policies, handbooks and procedures, leave laws and terminations and layoffs.