When you have a disability, it can be hard to stay focused on your goals and dreams. You may spend more time thinking about the challenges you face than you do thinking about how to achieve your goals.
But there is one thing that can help you get back on track: knowing your rights. When you are at work and you are suffering discrimination because of a disability, the best thing for your to do is to seek help from a disability discrimination lawyer in Washington, D.C. from Eric Siegel Law.
If you have a disability, what are the laws that protect you at work? Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Disability Discrimination?
Disability discrimination is when an employer treats an employee differently than another employee because he or she has a disability. An employer might treat someone differently because:
- The employer thinks the person is too sick to come to work;
- The employer thinks that the person cannot perform some job functions;
- The employer thinks that the person will be unable to do the job as well as other employees; and/or
- The employer thinks that it will cost too much money to accommodate the employee’s disability (for example, by providing a reasonable accommodation).
Many people with disabilities are discriminated against at work. Whether it’s due to their disability or because they need reasonable accommodations, they often find themselves facing unfair treatment or being fired.
If this happens to you, there are steps you can take.
What Should You Do About Disability Discrimination At Work?
The first step is to know your rights as an employee with a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against employees and job applicants who have a disability that substantially limits a major life activity, such as walking or seeing. This applies to all employers with 15 or more employees and all state and local governments, regardless of size. Under the ADA, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business.
What Are Reasonable Accommodations?
A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace (or in how things are usually done) that allows someone with a disability to perform the essential functions of their job — that is, do what their position requires them to do in order to succeed at work. Examples include allowing an employee who uses a wheelchair access ramps and accessible parking spaces; making sure that someone who has epilepsy doesn’t have emergencies right next door to them or adjusting break schedules.
Unfortunately, in the modern workplace, disability discrimination is something that still exists. That’s why it’s so important to report it when it happens—and to find a good disability discrimination lawyer in Washington, D.C. from Eric Siegel Law if you can’t resolve the issue on your own. With the right attorney by your side, the future will be a brighter one for you, and other disabled workers won’t have to endure such unfair treatment. Contact Eric Siegel Law today to learn more, and start building your case!