As part of National Disability Awareness Month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued guidance discussing how federal law protects applicants and employees who associate with someone who is disabled.
The new guidance, which is in a question-and-answer format, focuses on a little-noticed provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act that prohibits an employer from discriminating against an applicant or employee because that person associates with or has a relationship with a person who is disabled, regardless of whether the applicant or employee is disabled. The prohibition against discrimination applies to hiring, firing, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. For example, an employer may not refuse to hire someone because of an unfounded fear that the individual will be excessively absent or
unproductive because he or she is caring for a child with a disability.
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Additional Resource:
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Questions and Answers About the Association Provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act