Reasonable Accommodations for Employees With Disabilities

Employers in California have a duty to provide reasonable accommodations to their workers under state and federal law. However, the term “reasonable accommodation” can be vague, and many employees do not understand what rights are available to them if they are in need of adjustments that will allow them to work. If you have a disability that requires an accommodation that has been denied by your employer in California, you may have a legal case against them for damages. To learn more, talk to an experienced employment law attorney in your area today to learn more.

Defining Reasonable Accommodation

Under California law, an employer has an affirmative duty to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee when they have a known disability. Under this rule, an employer is required to provide reasonable accommodation for the worker in a manner that allows the employee to perform the essential functions of their position. It is important to note that the employer must be made aware of the disability, but once they do they are required to engage in an interactive process with the employee in order to determine what type of reasonable accommodation would work best for their situation. Employers are required under law to respond to any request for reasonable accommodation in a timely manner and operate in good faith.

Examples of Reasonable Accommodation

In order to perform the essential functions of a position, there are many different types of reasonable accommodation that can be requested by an employee. When determining what qualifies, the court often looks at the employee’s job description, the basic duties of the worker, the training materials applicable to the job, and the employer’s experience with similarly situated employees. To determine whether an element of the job is considered essential, the court will consider how specialized the task is, how many other employees can perform this function, and whether the purpose of the position is to perform this function.

 Common examples of reasonable accommodations in a California workplace include the following: 

• Buying equipment to increase accessibility,
• Job restructuring or alterations in the work schedule,
• Allowing time off of work for medical appointments,
• Making a worksite wheelchair accessible,
• Reassignment of the employee to a vacant position,
• Bringing a service dog to the office,
• Modifying the job application process to make it easier for qualified applicants with disabilities,
• Allowing for an unpaid leave of absence, and
• Relaxing work restrictions for a disabled employee.

Employees are able to provide their employer with a list of proposed reasonable accommodation for their particular position, and employers are only allowed to deny a request for reasonable accommodation if it imposes an undue hardship on the employer to accommodate the request. To learn more, talk to a lawyer today.

Contact a Lawyer for Help Today

Have you or someone you know in the workplace made a request for reasonable accommodation that has been denied? If so, an experienced and qualified California employment law attorney may be able to help. Call or contact one today to learn more.