Employment Law for Managers
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Employment Law for Managers
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructors: SkillUp
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What you'll learn
Describe key employment laws affecting managers, including ADA, FMLA, and Workersβ Compensation
Identify and apply appropriate actions to support employee accommodation and leave requests in compliance with legal and organizational requirements
Demonstrate empathetic and legally compliant handling of sensitive employee disclosures, and recognize when to escalate to HR or legal team
Apply best practices to navigate complex employee situations with legal, ethical, and organizational awareness
Details to know
February 2026
3 assignments
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There are 2 modules in this course
Managing people effectively requires not only leadership skills but also a solid understanding of employment law and managerial responsibilities. The course offers a clear and practical overview of the legal principles that guide managers in supporting employees while maintaining compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements. Designed for people managers and team leads, this course emphasizes real-world application rather than legal theory.
You will explore key federal regulations, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and learn how they apply to everyday management situations. The course explains how to recognize and respond appropriately to accommodation and leave requests, manage sensitive employee disclosures with empathy and confidentiality, and determine when issues must be escalated to human resources or legal teams. Throughout the course, the focus remains on striking a balance between employee support and consistent adherence to company policies and legal obligations. Through interactive activities, scenario-based videos, and reflective exercises, youβll practice identifying red flags, navigating complex employee situations, and making informed decisions aligned with legal and ethical standards. By the end of the course, youβll feel confident handling employment-related legal concerns while fostering a respectful, compliant workplace.
In this module, you will explore core employment laws, learn how to respond appropriately to accommodation and leave requests, and develop practical strategies for handling sensitive workplace situations with confidence and compliance.
What's included
4 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt8 plugins
4 videosβ’Total 18 minutes
- Is This an Accommodation? β’5 minutes
- Recognizing Accommodation Requests β’5 minutes
- Leave Request Scenarioβ’4 minutes
- Responding to a Disclosure β’4 minutes
1 readingβ’Total 5 minutes
- Reading: Course Overviewβ’5 minutes
2 assignmentsβ’Total 20 minutes
- Key Employment Laws and Accommodationsβ’10 minutes
- Practice Quiz: Managing Sensitive Situations and Escalationsβ’10 minutes
1 discussion promptβ’Total 10 minutes
- Confidentialityβ’10 minutes
8 pluginsβ’Total 46 minutes
- Reading: Overview of Key Employment Laws: ADA, FMLA, and Workers' Compensationβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Key Terms and Responsibilitiesβ’6 minutes
- Reading: Understanding Leave Basics: FMLA Eligibility and Workersβ Compensation Reportingβ’6 minutes
- Activity: Does this Absence Qualify?β’8 minutes
- Activity: Confidentiality Reflectionβ’8 minutes
- Reading: Handling Sensitive Disclosuresβ’5 minutes
- Activity: Manager vs. HR Rolesβ’3 minutes
- Reading: Red Flags That Require Escalation β’5 minutes
This module evaluates your understanding of key concepts through a comprehensive final assessment. The module also summarizes essential takeaways and provides guidance on next steps.
What's included
1 reading1 assignment
1 readingβ’Total 4 minutes
- Reading: Course Summaryβ’4 minutes
1 assignmentβ’Total 30 minutes
- Final Exam: Employment Law for Managersβ’30 minutes
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University of California, Santa Barbara
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Frequently asked questions
This course is designed for people managers, supervisors, and team leads at any level who are responsible for managing employees and handling workplace issues. It is especially useful for new managers seeking foundational knowledge of employment law, as well as for experienced managers who want to refresh their understanding of legal responsibilities and best practices.
No prior legal or Human Resources knowledge is required. The course is intentionally designed for non-legal professionals and focuses on practical guidance rather than legal theory. All concepts are explained in plain language with real-world examples to ensure accessibility for managers from any background.
The course covers key U.S. federal employment laws that commonly affect managers, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and Workersβ Compensation. Youβll learn how these laws apply to everyday management situations such as accommodations, leave requests, and employee disclosures.
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