If you have a disability, the law gives you the right to ask your employer (or a prospective employer) to provide reasonable accommodations. What exactly does this mean?
The term refers to measures that allow you to fulfill your job role or make it easier for you to do so. This is not special treatment. You cannot, for example, ask your employer to only require you to do half the amount of work as your colleagues for the same pay. Rather it is about leveling the playing field to help you do your job.
Examples could include getting a speech typing program installed on your computer if you find typing difficult due to an arm injury or having meeting notes transcribed if your weak hearing sometimes prevents you from catching all that is said. Other examples could include allowing you to sit, if standing all day is problematic because of a leg or hip weakness or making allowances for your mobility issues by providing you with a desk that is easier to access than the one you were originally provided.
Can an employer refuse?
Some employers are exempt from needing to provide reasonable accommodations. However, the majority are required to agree if the accommodation requested is reasonable. An employer is entitled to argue that it is not reasonable for reasons such implementation cost or too much disruption to the rest of the workforce.
Clearly employees and employers won’t always agree on whether a particular request is reasonable. Often it is about working together to find a solution that is acceptable to both of you. Learning more about how best to present your case may be necessary as may learning about your options if an employer is unwilling to abide by their legal obligations.