Jim Jantz, JD
Director of Compliance – Absence, Disability, & Life
Navigating workplace accommodations means keeping up with several laws that protect your employees’ rights. The main law guiding these requirements is the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), commonly known as the ADA.
The ADA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities. This means adjusting the job or work environment so employees can perform their essential duties—unless doing so would cause significant difficulty or expense for your business.
You should also be aware of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a newer law with similar requirements to the ADAAA. The PWFA requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions—unless it causes significant difficulty or expense. Keep in mind, there are important differences between the ADAAA and PWFA. For more details, see our post: Comparing Accommodation Rights: PWFA and ADA.
