When you hear the word accommodations, where does your brain go? If your mind immediately went to ADA workplace accommodations, that may be a sign you need a vacation. But thankfully, that also means you are in the right headspace to read about a tool from the Department of Labor.
If you have ever had an employee request accommodations through the ADA, the process and the costs associated with those accommodations can sometimes feel daunting. When it comes to cost, survey data from the Job Accommodation Network indicate that the majority of accommodations reported by employers cost nothing to implement. If an accommodation costs money, 37% of the survey respondents report it as a one-time expenditure with a median cost of $300. For the 7% that reported ongoing costs, the median annual cost was reported at $1,925.
Additionally, brainstorming the types of accommodations that exist can be a hurdle you just need a little nudge to overcome. The Job Accommodation Network launched a “Situations and Solutions Finder,” intended as a helpful starting point to get ideas about the kinds of accommodations that could be possible. Even though accommodations are an individualized determination informed through the ADA interactive process, this tool may just be the nudge needed.
If you have any questions about the ADA, accommodations or would like to purchase our ADA interactive checklist (or need vacation travel spots), give us a call at (402) 804-8000 or email ksb@ksbschoollaw.com.