Nobody should have to worry about being discriminated against for any reason at their workplace, but unfortunately, discrimination incidents still occur to this day. If you’re a disabled worker who recently experienced discrimination at your job, you might consider filing a claim against your employer. To learn more about disability discrimination in the workplace, read on or reach out to a Disability Discrimination Attorney in Atlanta, GA today.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M A VICTIM OF DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION?
In 1990, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which serves to prevent discrimination against disabled employees in the workforce. This law requires employers who have at least 15 employees to provide reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. According to the ADA, you can be considered disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity (like walking, speaking, learning, etc.) and you have medical records of your impairment. However, the act isn’t specific about what accommodations employers are required to provide to disabled employees or the extent of disabled employees’ rights.
Employees are required to provide ‘reasonable’ accommodations, meaning they must allow alternatives for disabled employees as long as the accommodation does not cause undue burden. This is when an accommodation causes harm to the company by costing too much money or negatively affecting the productivity of other employees. Because of the vagueness of the ADA, it can be difficult to determine what would be a reasonable accommodation. Some examples include:
- Helping someone apply for a job
- Installing ramps or other aids to ensure the workplace is accessible to wheelchair users
- Providing an interpreter for blind or hearing-impaired employees
- Allowing sick employees to attend medical treatments without penalty
CAN I FILE A CHARGE AGAINST MY EMPLOYER?
If you believe you could be a victim of disability discrimination at your job, you may be able to file a claim against your employer. You should contact an experienced employee rights lawyer immediately to figure out your options. If you have a valid claim, you must file the charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within a certain period of time. Most employees have 180 days after a discrimination incident to file a claim. However, if you work for the federal government, you have 45 days after a discrimination incident to contact an EEOC counselor in order to file a charge.
If you’ve been discriminated against for your disability, you should consider speaking with a compassionate employee law attorney who can help you determine your options. Ben Barrett Law is here to provide quality legal counseling. Contact us today for an initial consultation.
