Employment

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act requires employers of five or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. 

A reasonable accommodation is any change to the application or hiring process, to the job, to the way the job is done, or the work environment. The purpose is to allow a person with a disability to do the essential functions of that job and enjoy an equal opportunity to get a job and successfully perform their job tasks to the same extent as people without disabilities.  A reasonable accommodation should be granted unless it would cause an undue hardship or financial burden to the employer. 

Some examples of accommodations include:

• Changing job duties
• Providing leave for medical care
• Changing work schedules
• Relocating the work area
• Providing mechanical or electrical aids
• The Job Accommodation Network can be a helpful resource for thinking through reasonable accommodation ideas.

A complaint may be filed with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing against an employer who fails to reasonably accommodate a disabled employee. More information about the complaint process is available here. In some cases, it may be helpful to speak with an attorney before filing a complaint.