Kentucky may be the land of horses and bourbon, but should also be a place of fairness and opportunity. This is especially true in the workplace, as most employers in Kentucky are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This act covers how disabled employees are to be treated in the workplace and how potential employees are to be treated in the hiring process.
What does the ADA require of employers?
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on a person’s disability in the workplace or in the hiring process. Furthermore, employers must make reasonable accommodations for disabled employees that will allow those employees to perform their job duties and enjoy the same benefits in the workplace as nondisabled employees. These reasonable accommodations also extend to the hiring process. There is, though, an exception. Depending on the circumstances an employer need not provide an accommodation if it would cause the employer to suffer an undue hardship.
What is an undue hardship?
Employers need not provide a reasonable accommodation if it would cause an undue hardship. If an accommodation requires a significant expense or presents a significant difficulty in implementing considering the employer’s size, financial resources and routine operations, then that accommodation may be deemed unreasonable. However, alternative accommodations may be available that would not impose an undue hardship on employers.
Learn more about the ADA
The ADA is important in ensuring that disabled workers are treated fairly without exposing an employer to expenses that they cannot be expected to handle. Kentucky employers should make sure they have a good understanding of the ADA so they can ensure they can comply with it.