As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the workplace, employers in Bellevue, Idaho must be aware of their obligations to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship. Employers must also be aware of their obligation to address cases of discrimination or harassment related to the pandemic. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) can provide assistance for compliance with the ADA and practical job adjustment strategies for people with disabilities to return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two federal labor laws can establish the obligation to accommodate employees based on pregnancy: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), and the ADA when the person has a medical condition related to pregnancy that is a disability. The ADA gives skilled workers with disabilities the right to reasonable accommodations to address disability-related limitations at work, in the absence of undue hardship. Employers must evaluate the accommodations provided during the public health emergency and, in consultation with the employee, assess whether reasonable accommodation is still necessary based on individualized circumstances. In particular, employers can request “documentation” that explains why there may be an ongoing need for accommodation and whether alternative accommodation could meet those needs.
As such, employers in Bellevue, Idaho must be aware of their obligations under federal law when it comes to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities during this pandemic.
