Tag: accommodation request

Should You Disclose Invisible Disabilities? Why or Why Not

Many workers with “invisible” disabilities, including mental health and neurological conditions, hesitate to disclose them to their employers due to fear of discrimination or bias, despite increased awareness and reduced stigma surrounding these conditions. ​​Approximately 50 million American adults live with mental, emotional, or behavioral conditions, and around 5.5 million have autism. The National Institutes […]

Service Animals in the Office? Here’s How Employers Should Handle Accommodation Requests

The concept of service animals in the workplace has been around for quite some time, but many managers, especially those at smaller companies, may not have yet had to address it. With regard to employees, you can treat a request for a service animal the same as any other accommodation request, meaning you are obligated […]

A win for employers: Supreme Court rejects union’s effort to obtain right of consultation in accommodation process

by John Craig and Matthew Larsen Do unions have an independent legal right, separate and apart from their collective agreement rights, to be involved in every unionized employee’s accommodation request? This question was answered earlier this year by the British Columbia Court of Appeal, which ruled that unions have no such right. Recently, in Telecommunications […]

New ADA Design Standards Take Effect March 15

Employers covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must make sure any new building projects are in compliance with the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design by March 15. The new standards replace the 1991 standards devised when the ADA became law. The 2010 standards set minimum requirements for new construction and alterations of more […]

Duty to Accommodate Disabilities Takes New Turn in Canada

By Donna Gallant Employers are regularly called upon to modify the workplace or job duties in order to accommodate disabilities. But personal assistive bodily devices haven’t traditionally been part of the accommodation discussion in Canada. This may now be changing, according to a recent arbitration decision. Teacher requires hearing aids A teacher struggled with a […]