Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and ADA

During these uncertain times, we must remember to act quickly to effectively accommodate the medical needs of NIH employees and applicants while ensuring those individuals are protected from disability discrimination.

Managers/supervisors should engage in an expedited interactive process with their employees to determine the workplace barriers experienced by the individual and possible immediate accommodation(s) to overcome those barriers (while keeping in mind the general guidelines of ADA disability-inquiries for pandemics). Managers/supervisors should try handling all pandemic-related reasonable accommodation (RA) request approvals through managerial authority if the need is urgent. Still, for any questions or RA denials, they must contact the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program team (https://www.edi.nih.gov/consulting/reasonable-accommodation/contact), which manages the NIH RA program, immediately.

Learn more about EEOC Guidance regarding Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and ADA by visiting https://www.edi.nih.gov/blog/news/pandemic-preparedness-workplace-and-americans-disabilities-act.