Formisano & Company Attorneys At Law

Schedule A Consultation Today.

Call 401-400-4402

  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorney
    • V. Edward Formisano
  • Practice Areas
    • Employment Law
    • Discrimination
    • Sexual Harassment
    • Whistleblower Claims
    • Family And Medical Leave Act
    • Wage – Hour Disputes
    • Separation Agreements
    • Employer Retaliation
    • Wrongful Termination
    • Employment Contracts
    • Civil Litigation
    • Civil Rights
  • Testimonials
  • Case Results
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorney
    • V. Edward Formisano
  • Practice Areas
    • Employment Law
      • Employer Retaliation
      • Employment Contracts
      • Whistleblower Claims
      • Wrongful Termination
    • Discrimination
      • Age Discrimination
      • Disability Discrimination
      • Gender Discrimination
      • Military Discrimination / Harassment
      • Pregnancy Discrimination
      • Racial Discrimination
      • Religious Discrimination
      • Sexual Orientation Discrimination
      • Steps To Take When Facing Workplace Discrimination
      • Discrimination & Harassment FAQ
    • Sexual Harassment
    • Family And Medical Leave Act
      • Am I Covered Under FMLA?
    • Wage – Hour Disputes
      • Am I Exempt From Overtime Pay?
    • Separation Agreements
      • Separation Agreement FAQ
    • Civil Litigation
      • Personal Injury
    • Civil Rights
      • Police Brutality And Misconduct
  • Testimonials
  • Case Results
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • X Close
Email

 Call

Formisano & Company Attorneys At Law

Passionate About Protecting Employee Rights

Working when you have diabetes

On Behalf of Formisano & Company | Feb 28, 2023 | Workplace Discrimination

Federal and state law prohibits employers in Rhode Island from unfairly discriminating against employees who have health conditions such as diabetes. This is because diabetes is considered to be a disability, and companies must generally offer reasonable accommodations to account for issues such as high blood sugar or other issues having diabetes may cause.

Workers are protected by two pieces of legislation

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination by companies or other entities that receive federal funds. In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Ac was passed and states that disabled individuals are entitled to reasonable accommodations. What the law considers a reasonable accommodation varies depending on the exact hardships a disabled individual might face.

How to obtain reasonable accommodations

If you have diabetes, you may need to request specific accommodations in writing. For instance, you may ask for an additional break to have a snack or drink if your blood sugar gets too high or low. Your employer may also agree to allow you to have a drink behind your register or allow you to sit down even if that goes against company policy. It is important to understand that employers are not required to abide by your requests if it would create an undue hardship.

How to report discrimination

It’s possible that your employer will refuse to provide you with reasonable accommodations or retaliate against you for taking advantage of them. If you feel like you have been a victim of workplace discrimination, talk to your supervisor or someone else within the company. If you feel like your concerns aren’t being taken seriously, you can file a complaint with state or federal authorities such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

If you’re mistreated at work, you may be entitled to various forms of relief. For instance, you may be entitled to reinstatement to your current position if you’re terminated or demoted because of your disability. Financial compensation may also be available in a workplace discrimination settlement or lawsuit.

Categories

  • Disabilities
  • Employment Contracts
  • Employment Law
  • Family And Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Firm News
  • Protected Class Employees
  • Severance Agreements
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Wage and Hour Violations
  • Whistleblower Cases
  • Workplace Discrimination
  • Workplace Harassment
  • Workplace Retaliation

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Layoffs can be legal or unlawfully discriminatory
  • Combating sexual harassment at work
  • Parental leave rights for employees in Rhode Island
  • Bullying at work isn’t actionable, but other conduct is
  • Is there sexual harassment in the military? 

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Contact our qualified legal team, located in Cranston, Rhode Island, to schedule an initial consultation today. We offer practical legal advice and quality counsel.

Formisano & Company Attorneys At Law

Address:

100 Midway Place, Suite 1
Cranston, RI 02920

Phone:

401-400-4402

Cranston Office Location

Get an Experienced Legal Team
On Your Side

Review the Firm
  • Follow
  • Follow

* AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.

© 2025 Formisano & Company • All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw