Lori Torriero, Esq.

This webinar will describe a step-by-step approach to managing employees that are affected by addiction and/or substance abuse.

 

The presenter, Lori Torriero, will define and explore the differences between addiction and abuse and examine the most common drugs, both historically as well as any emerging trends. She will also examine the history of the legal treatment of addiction and drug abuse beginning with the Rehabilitation Act and moving through the Americans with Disabilities Act to the current state of case law under the recent ADA amendments.

 

The most common situations will be discussed in which the issue of substance abuse and addiction arises in the workplace, absenteeism and other employee behaviors. She will review the DOT regulations and help you to determine when to test and when not to test.

 

She will conclude with a discussion of some common policy options and management responses to employees who claim substance abuse as the underlying cause of misconduct.

 

 

 

Bachelor of Arts, Interpersonal Communication, State University of New York, College at Oswego, 1979.

Master of Public Administration, Kent State University, 1982.

Juris Doctor, University of Akron School of Law, 1994.

Work experience in both city and county government as a human resources and labor relations administrator including the City of Cleveland (22 union contracts, approximately 8,000 employees), the City of Canton, (5 union contracts, approximately 1,200 employees), Lake County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (1union contract, approximately 1,200 employees), Franklin County Child Support Enforcement (current) (1 union contract, 280 employees).

10 years experience as a labor and employment attorney representing public sector jurisdictions and agencies with Downes, Hurst & Fishel, LLP (now Downes, Fishel, Hass & Kim, LLP). 

Areas of expertise include FMLA, EEO, labor contract negotiations and administration, civil service law, etc.

Recipient of the 2006 Award of Excellence, Ohio Public Employer Labor Relations Association.