Living with a disability is hard enough. You shouldn’t have to face the challenges in presents in the workplace. Yet, time and again, disabled workers in California are discriminated against, either intentionally or unintentionally, which is never okay. While you might be able to take legal action to protect yourself and your right to equal employment opportunities, there are some things that you might have to do first.
The ADA’s reasonable accommodation requirement
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), certain employers are required to make reasonable accommodations to individuals throughout the employment process in an effort to ensure that they have equal employment opportunities. These accommodations can include different hours or work assignments, modified or new equipment, and even something as simple as basic access to facilities. These accommodations aren’t automatic, though. If you’re a disabled worker who needs accommodations, then you’ll need to make a formal request before bringing any sort of formal action.
Reasonable accommodation and undue hardship
It’s important to know that employers can escape the reasonable accommodation requirement if they can show that making the requested accommodation would result in undue hardship. Undue hardship may exist if the accommodation is too costly in light of the employer’s resources or if it affects the business’s ability to operate in a significant way. When pursuing a legal claim for failure to abide by the ADA, you’ll want to be prepared for these arguments and know how to counter them.
Don’t let employers take advantage of you
The sad reality of the business world is that employers often cut corners to save time and money, but the cost is a toll on workers’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being. This is unacceptable, and those employers who stray from the law need to be held accountable. If you think that you need an ally on your side to fight against an employer who has taken advantage of you, then now is the time to speak with a well renowned attorney of your choosing.