Reasonable Accommodations Beyond Disability

Many employers and their counsel are aware of the obligation to provide reasonable accommodations due to disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, even experienced HR and legal professionals may be surprised to learn about the breadth of accommodation that employers may be required to provide employees for reasons extending well beyond disability. Further complicating the matter, differing accommodation requirements under federal, state, and, in some cases, even local laws can create a navigation challenge for even the most sophisticated practitioner. 

Against the backdrop of this complex web of legal requirements, Ms. Fant will discuss:

• An overview of the various reasons employees may be able to request and receive accommodations in the workplace, including disability, religious beliefs and practices, pregnancy and related conditions, and more

• The federal, state, and local laws giving rise to reasonable accommodation obligations for employers

• Differing standards for analyzing accommodation requests depending on the nature of the request and/or the location of the employee

• Avoiding common pitfalls in the accommodation process

• Best practices for ensuring legally compliant and effective processes around employee accommodation requests

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of the universe of federal, state, and local laws that govern reasonable accommodations in the workplace

2. Recognize the differing requirements employers may face depending on the nature of an accommodation request

3. Identify strategies for ensuring that workplace accommodation processes are compliant, efficient, and effective