Good Faith Interactive Process is Key to Properly Handling Accommodation Issues

Most employers know (though some, incredibly, still do not) that they are obligated by law to reasonably accommodate disabled employees. After that, there are several areas of knowledge breakdown that form a theme for cases in litigation. Among them is a rule that is commonly overlooked: the requirement that employers engage in good faith interactions with disabled employees to find reasonable accommodations that will allow them to perform their jobs. Doing so is critical to effectively preventing or defending against handicap discrimination lawsuits.

After acknowledging an employee’s handicap, a process that is not always as simple as it may seem, employers on notice that an accommodation is needed have the duty to figure out what can be done. Commonly, they treat it as a one way street along which they alone consider potential work changes and decide whether they can be implemented. This approach can work as long a reasonable accommodation is identified, accepted by the employee involved, and implemented. When this  doesn’t happen for one reason or another, employers need to be sure they turn to the employee for and engage in a good faith interaction aimed at exploring accommodation options and finding one that will work. This normally involves a review of medical information, meeting with the employee, considering which job duties are essential, and exploring all reasonable options for helping the employee perform them. Employers should be careful that, while working with employees in this area, they are not counter-acting that effort by disciplining or mistreating them actions that somehow relate to the disability in question.