For millions of workers, living with a disability shouldn’t mean sacrificing a career. Under both California law and federal law, employees with physical or mental disabilities have powerful rights to stay employed and perform their jobs safely and effectively. One of the most critical protections? The right to reasonable accommodation.
What is a Reasonable Accommodation?
A reasonable accommodation is any change to the workplace or job duties that helps a qualified employee with a disability perform essential job functions. Examples include:
- Modifying work schedules
- Providing assistive technology or adaptive equipment
- Offering leave for medical treatment
- Reassigning to an open position
- Adjusting workplace policies
California vs. Federal Law
Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protect disabled workers. However, FEHA generally offers broader protections. For instance:
- FEHA applies to employers with 5 or more employees, while ADA generally applies to those with 15 or more.
- FEHA’s definition of disability is broader than the federal standard.
Interactive Process: A Legal Requirement
It’s not enough for employers to simply say “no” to an accommodation request. They are legally required to engage in a good-faith interactive process—a back-and-forth discussion with the employee to explore reasonable solutions.
When Employers Fail
Failure to provide reasonable accommodation—or even to consider it properly—is illegal. If your employer:
- Ignores your accommodation request
- Unreasonably delays responding
- Refuses to engage in the interactive process
- Retaliates against you for asking
—you may have a legal claim.
What You Can Do
If you need accommodation:
✅ Make your request in writing.
✅ Provide medical documentation if requested (but only as necessary).
✅ Keep records of communications with HR or supervisors.
When employers fall short, California law provides strong legal remedies, including back pay, emotional distress damages, and even punitive damages in some cases.
Disability should never stand in the way of your career. Know your rights—and don’t be afraid to assert them.
