The goal of providing reasonable accommodations in the workplace is to make a more inclusive workplace. Employers should not deny you opportunities at work because you have a disability, are pregnant, have a religious need, or need to use FMLA leave. Instead, they should provide reasonable accommodations to ensure all employees receive the same opportunities to succeed at work.
Some examples of reasonable accommodations may include the following:
- You are seriously injured in a car accident. As a result, you require a cane to walk for several months. Your office does not have any accessible parking in the large parking lot. You ask your employer to put accessible parking spots in the front of the parking lot to make it easier for you to get to and from your car.
- You are a practicing Muslim. You ask your employer to provide you five prayer breaks during the day and a location to conduct your daily prayers throughout the day.
- You are pregnant. You cannot stand all day without feeling faint and your feet swelling. You ask your employer for a chair at your station so you can sit as needed. You also request that you can keep a bottle of water with you to drink as needed.
- You are a nursing mother. You ask your employer to provide you with a nursing room and breaks throughout the day to pump milk for your baby.
- Your son broke his leg at football practice. He cannot go to school for three weeks. You need FMLA accommodations to stay home with him three days a week for the next three weeks. However, you are willing to work from home during this time.
- You get migraines from the computer screen glare. You ask your boss to buy anti-glare computer screens to reduce your migraines.
- Your employer requires all employees to wear uniforms which include short sleeve shirts. You are an orthodox Jewish woman, which requires your elbows to be always covered in public. You request an accommodation to the uniform that you wear a long sleeve shirt under your uniform shirt to meet your religious practices’ needs.
- You are in your last trimester and must go to prenatal doctor appointments every other week. You request your employer to schedule your work hours around your appointment times. You give him two weeks’ notice of each appointment date and time.
Can Your Boss Deny You a Reasonable Accommodation at Work?
Federal and state laws mandate your boss to accommodate your needs related to disabilities, pregnancy, religion, and FMLA leave. However, under certain circumstances, employers can deny these accommodations. If the accommodations cause an undue hardship, employers can deny your accommodation as requested. However, they must work with you to find another reasonable accommodation to meet your needs without causing your employer an undue hardship.
Derek Smith
3 min. read
Derek Smith