What Accommodations Can I Request After a Work Injury?
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. This includes employees who have been injured on the job and cannot perform their regular duties.
There are a variety of accommodations that an employer can provide, depending on the needs of the individual employee. Some common accommodations include:
- Modifications to the work schedule including part-time work, flexible hours, or job sharing.
- Modifications to the workplace: This can include physical changes to the workspace, such as widening doorways or adding ramps.
- Changes to equipment or devices: This includes providing adaptive equipment or software that will help the employee perform their duties.
- Job reassignment: In some cases, it may be possible for the employee to be reassigned to a different position that is better suited to their abilities.
- Telecommuting or working from home: This can be a viable option if the employee can perform their duties from home.
- Use of assistive technology: We’re talking about screen readers, magnifiers, and other tools that can help employees with vision or hearing impairments.
- Access to on-site disability services: This can include things like on-site counselors or sign language interpreters.
How Can You Request Workplace Adjustments and Accommodations?
While it’s your right to ask your employer for workplace adjustments or accommodations, how you go about it is important. Here are a few tips:
Talk to Your Supervisor or Human Resources Department
This is usually the best way to start the conversation. To help you table your request, you can bring a doctor’s note or other documentation detailing your injury and the necessary accommodations.
Put It in Writing
Once you’ve had a chance to discuss your needs with your employer, it’s a good idea to put everything in writing. This will help ensure that your employer understands your needs and can make the appropriate accommodations. Having the request in writing also helps you avoid further issues down the road.
Be Specific
When requesting accommodations, be as specific as possible about what you need. This will help your employer to understand your needs and make the best possible accommodations. For example, if you need a modified work schedule, be sure to include the days and times that would work best for you.
Be Flexible
Keep in mind that your employer may not be able to accommodate all of your requests. They will, however, make every effort to meet your needs. As such, it’s important to be flexible and willing to compromise.
Follow Up
Once you’ve submitted your request, follow up with your employer to ensure that they received it and find out what accommodations they can provide.
Can My Employer Deny My Request for Accommodations?
In some cases, your employer may be unable to accommodate your requests. This could be due to financial reasons or because the requested accommodation would create an undue hardship for the employer. If your employer cannot provide the accommodations you need, they may offer you a different position better suited to your abilities.
Speak with a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
At The Law Office of James. M. Hoffman, we understand how difficult it can be to deal with a work-related injury. We also know that requesting and obtaining accommodations can be confusing and frustrating. Our team is here to help you every step of the way, from filing your claim to appealing a denied request for accommodations. Contact us 24/7 to learn more about how we can help you.
