“Birthdays were invented to sell Hallmark cards.” – Ron Swanson
If you’ve ever watched the show “Parks and Recreation,” you know Leslie Knope lives for birthdays, but her boss, Ron Swanson, hates them. In one episode, Leslie pranks Ron by pretending to plan an elaborate birthday party for him, and he has a meltdown. The scenario may be entertaining on TV, but not for employers. A jury recently awarded $450,000 to an employee who was fired after having a panic attack at an office birthday party. The bottom line is, pay close attention to any request for a disability accommodation—even one to skip an office party.
