My employer denied my request for a reasonable accommodation because of “undue hardship.” What does undue hardship mean?

Employees with disabilities have the right to request reasonable accommodations that allow them to continue working. Employers are legally obligated to make appropriate accommodations unless there is undue hardship. Undue hardship means the business would suffer considerable difficulty or costs in providing accommodations.

Under California law, being burdened or inconvenienced is not enough to be considered undue hardship. Employers are required to meet a high bar when establishing that undue hardship exists, which includes the following factors:

  • How much the accommodations cost
  • How big the employer is in terms of financial resources and number of workers
  • The structure of the business and type of work
  • Impact of the accommodations on business operations

The employer is responsible for showing that a worker’s request for reasonable accommodations would result in undue hardship. Using undue hardship as an excuse to deny accommodations is unlawful and may be considered disability discrimination.

If your employer has refused to discuss accommodations with you or provide them even though there is no undue hardship, contact a knowledgeable Oakland employment lawyer. Erlich Law Firm can advise you of your legal rights.

Other Disability Discrimination FAQs:

background-quote

My parents were heavily involved in community organizing. Seeing neighbors and friends’ parents struggle in the workplace gave me a sense of purpose that I wanted to help others. Many employees feel helpless and powerless in the workplace, and helping them vindicate their rights is the right thing to do.

- Jason Erlich

Client testimonials
Jason took the time to explain and guide me through the challenging process, and went the extra steps in consistently providing guidance and putting my concerns and questions high on their list.

Jeff V., Oakland

Jason Erlich made me feel like I was in the right place right away.I had some serious problems with a previous employer and he took care of everything. From the start he helped with my concerns and fears going up against a big corporation.

Susan W., Pacifica

With Jason’s expertise, commitment and aggressiveness, the case is now over and it’s only been 6 months!! I would HIGHLY recommend Jason Erlich to anyone that needs an employment lawyer.

Carla, Petaluma

I can highly recommend Jason Erlich Esq. for any employment law matter. He is an outstanding lawyer, embodies a mix of honesty, knowledge, client care and tough mindset.

Roger J., Oakland

When employees' legal rights are violated, we take time to explain their legal options, listen to their goals, and aggressively argue their case until we achieve the resolution they deserve.

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