How to Assess Whether an Employee's Request for Accommodation Is Reasonable

Author: Meryl Gutterman, Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C.

As part of its responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability, whether the individual is a job applicant or a full-time or part-time employee. A reasonable accommodation for ADA purposes is an accommodation that will enable the individual to perform the essential functions of the job and that does not create an undue hardship on the employer.

Upon notice of an individual's disability and need for accommodation, these are the steps an employer should take to assess whether the individual's accommodation request is reasonable.