Do You Have An ADA Policy In Your Handbook?

Every employee handbook should have a policy preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. These policies generally cover several protected groups including individuals with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, employers need to take their handbook one step further and create a policy that addresses accommodations in the workplace for disabled applicants and employees.

During our recent Master Series in April, we highlighted several policies that should be contained in every handbook including an ADA accommodations policy. Here are the terms you should have in your accommodations policy:

• The policy should be directed toward “qualified individuals with disabilities.” Under the ADA, a qualified individual with a disability is a person that meets the legitimate skill, experience, education or other requirements of the employment position and can perform the “essential functions” of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Once a request for an accommodation is received pursuant to the employer’s policy, the interactive process must be initiated with the employee to fully explore accommodations in the workplace. When questions surface regarding requests for accommodations or an employer’s legal obligations, it is recommended that employment counsel should be contacted at the outset to provide guidance regarding the process.