What exactly is included in “reasonable accommodations” for disabled workers?
Posted: June 26th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Travel For Disabled | Tags: Accommodations, disabled, exactly, included, reasonable, workers | 6 Comments »have a coworker who is in a wheel chair & suffers from chronic pain. The pain/condition causes him to be unreliable at work. Such as, he can’t seem to arrive by the time set by our boss & is always at least 2 hours late, or will sometimes not show up at all and sometimes not even call to say he won’t be in. If he hasn’t made it in to do his work, everyone else in the department has to cover for him. He receives a full time salary, including vacation time, but hasn’t worked more than 3 or 4 days (25 hours a week tops) in the last 2 years. As a coworker who is held responsible for my actions, I feel like it’s almost discriminatory in a way, how the disabled coworker is favored.
What exactly are “reasonable accommodations” beyond making sure he has access to the building, restrooms, equipment, etc? Is it horribly selfish of me to feel like I’m getting treated unfairly?
Please don’t think I’m being mean – I feel really horrible for what he has to suffer through everyday, but I kind of feel like he has a commitment to work a full time job, that he just can’t meet because of his condition & all the other coworkers are suffering for it.
I understand that flexible hours can be part of reasonable accommodations. But why do I have to mind my own business, when I’m responsible for his work when he isn’t here? That isn’t in my job description. I am afraid my boss would tell me to mind my own business, but I feel like I’m taking on a lot more work & don’t get compensated for it. That’s how I feel I’m suffering, obviously not physically.
You are correct, reasonable accomodations only means that they will make sure he is able to get to work in able to do his work. It does not mean that he can come and go as he pleases, but it seems that is exactly what your company is allowing him to do. It is really ultimately up to them.
You’re not suffering at all. The person in the wheelchair is.
Suck it up and be thankful for what you have.
You don’t know that person’s medical issues or history. You really have no clue what’s going on.
Quit whining.
Jealousy only makes you miserable.
If you are focused on doing your job, what other people do isn’t going to matter.
Your boss needs to grow a back bone and either warn the crappy employee or fire him for not doing his job.The boss should be keeping record of all offenses by this employee.He CAN fire him for being late, not showing up and calling, not doing his job etc. he must write and date all offenses though, including witness testimonials from other employees so he can save his ass from this person from crying foul.
He’ll be able to get SSI.
“Reasonable accommodations” are whatsoever a Federal bureaucrat says your employer has to do whether or not any other similar employer has ever had to do the same and even of none ever will.
The employer is under no obligation to explain to any other employee the conditions of employment for this person. “Reasonable accommodations” mean different things in each circumstance. The person’s work schedule may be part of the accommodations in this situation.
Reasonable accommodations may include architectural changes to allow access, personal assistants, equipment, flexible or reduced work hours, etc., etc., etc.
It is likely in many situations that other employees can never know the details of medical information or personnel information. And that is a good thing. Would you want others to know personal information about you?
As long as you are paid for your work and held to reasonable standards in your job, the terms and conditions of anyone else’s employment should be no concern of yours. Should it?