Lauren Stadler

Lauren Stadler (Associate-McLean, VA) addresses obesity as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act in a November 1, 2024, article in Law360. Given the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, there is growing pressure to classify obesity as a disability, and whether employers need to accommodate an employee who requests a workplace accommodation on the basis of their obesity. Lauren advises: “Care should be given to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, which may include height and weight protections, and job descriptions should be reviewed regularly to ensure all required qualifications are legitimate and appropriate for the positions, and employers should not perpetuate biases against employees who fall into any protected classification.”