Experienced, Effective And Always Empathetic

Reasonable accommodations for an employee’s disability

On Behalf of | Jan 23, 2023 | Uncategorized

If you live with a disability, it is your right to ask your employer to make accommodations so you can do your job. You know better than anyone what you need. Do not expect your employer to guess (although it would be nice if they asked if there is anything they can do rather than wait for you to make the first move).

If they refuse, they may be within their rights. For example, if it is beyond what the law would consider reasonable for a company of their size. Or if they are one of the few employers exempt from the relevant laws.

So what is considered a reasonable accommodation request?

There is no one answer, and cases should be considered individually. If your employer does not want to provide what you are asking for, they might argue:

  • It costs too much money
  • It takes up too much space
  • It will require too much disruption
  • It is not necessary
  • There is a simpler solution

Deciding who is correct and what is reasonable is not always straightforward. Often it is a case of negotiating to find an acceptable solution.

If, however, your employer takes retaliatory action against you for asking, such as reducing your hours, overlooking you for a promotion or firing you, you should definitely seek to find out more about your legal options. Employers are not allowed to discriminate against you on the grounds of your disability. Whether overtly or by failing to make allowances the law would consider you are entitled to.