Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for employees who have a disability that meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What’s considered reasonable varies from one employer to the next, but it’s usually in the employer’s best interests to provide the accommodations unless it truly does place an undue hardship on the business.
There are many things that are considered reasonable accommodations. Some of these are as simple as approving an employee’s request to have a specific block of time off each week to attend therapy sessions, while others are more involved. Here are some examples of reasonable accommodations that businesses might provide:
- Altering the performance of a task if the result is consistent with other methods of doing the same task
- Using alternative communication methods, such as providing written instructions for workers who need to review them often or who are hard of hearing
- Reducing background noise or providing earphones or earplugs
- Providing accessible bathrooms, including ramps as necessary
- Offering protective supplies like gloves and masks
- Setting up ergonomic workstations
- Allowing for frequent restroom breaks
- Enabling workers to work remotely when possible
- Holding frequent training sessions complete with multiple formats of materials
- Implementing a mentor system to help employees who need extra assistance
If you’re an employee who’s gone through the proper channels for requesting a reasonable accommodation and that’s been denied by your employer, you might opt to pursue a claim against the company. Working with an attorney who’s familiar with this area of the law is beneficial because the laws and requirements are complex.