Maybe you got into a car crash on the way to work one day and suffered a spinal cord injury. Perhaps you acquired the virus that left you with lasting physical consequences. You may also have a congenital condition that has always impacted your life.
When you have a disabling medical condition, you may need support to do the same things others do. Those in wheelchairs, for example, need wider doors to get into buildings and more clearance in bathroom stalls so that they can tend to their own needs.
If you have a medical condition that requires accommodations and want to stay at work, you may require your employer’s cooperation. When does a company have to help an employee with a medical condition?
Federal law requires most employers to provide reasonable accommodations
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a crucial piece of legislation that establishes protections for those with disabling medical conditions. Both businesses providing services and goods to the public and employers have obligations to those with disabilities under the ADA. For many employers, these requirements take effect when the company has 15 or more employees.
If your employer is large enough, then the law obligates them to work with you. Usually, the only real reason a company can decline accommodations is if the request poses an undue hardship.
It’s important to remember that asking for accommodations is your right as an American with a serious medical condition. Your employer should not discriminate against you for a medical condition. Speaking up for yourself will benefit you and other workers who will need accommodations from your employer in the future.