Workplace policies and practices that fail to account for family-related concerns and caregiving obligations may lead to dissatisfied employees and claims of human rights violations. The following topics will be addressed:

• What obligations does an employer have to develop policies which prevent discrimination based on family status? What obligations do unions have in preventing and addressing such discrimination?
• What forms of caregiving fall under the protective umbrella of family status accommodation?
• What qualifies as “undue hardship” for an employer when it comes to family status accommodation?
• Is family status accommodation only an obligation once employees have demonstrated that they have exhausted alternative options?
• How do different jurisdictions across the country determine whether discrimination based on family status has occurred?
• What critical facts should employers consider when integrating family status accommodations into their policies?