Wheaton Disability & Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

Experienced Employment Law Attorney Standing Up for Disabled and Pregnant Workers in Wheaton, IL

People with disabilities and pregnant women are entitled to certain legal protections in the workplace. One of the most important protections for pregnant or disabled workers is the right to reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations allow the employee to perform her job duties without causing undue hardship for the employer. It is illegal for an employer to refuse to make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities or pregnant workers. However, there is sometimes a question about what types of accommodations are reasonable. Employers also cannot discriminate against disabled or pregnant applicants in hiring or promoting, and must restore workers returning from maternity leave to their original position wherever possible. If you believe that you are being discriminated against in your workplace due to a disability or pregnancy, you may have the grounds to file a lawsuit against your employer and recover compensation.

JSL Law, LLC is committed to protecting the rights of pregnant and disabled workers. Attorney Jolianne Alexander has been recognized by organizations such as Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers in America for her dynamic work in employment law. She handles all cases personally and will work closely with you to find the right solution for your individual case. Her years of experience handling workplace discrimination cases have given her the perspective needed to develop unique solutions for unique cases.

What Are Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnant and Disabled Workers?

Employers are required to provide accommodations for disabled and pregnant workers, so long as providing the accommodation would not cause the employer undue hardship. Pregnant or disabled workers who can perform all or most of their normal job duties with some adaptations or modifications should normally be accommodated. Common examples of reasonable accommodations needed by employees who are pregnant or who have disabilities include:

• Longer or more frequent bathroom breaks.
• Purchasing adaptive software for a blind worker's office computer.
• Modifying the layout of an office to allow wheelchair access.
• Providing a chair for a pregnant employee who would normally stand in place.
• Allowing service animals in workplaces where it is safe to do so.
• Changing a worker's schedule to allow for recurring doctor's appointments.
• Excusing a worker from occasional manual labor duties that are not an essential job function.
• Providing a sign language interpreter or closed captioning during presentations and trainings.
• Temporarily modifying an employee's job duties when the changes are reasonable, such as by placing a grocery store employee who usually restocks the shelves on a cash register during her pregnancy when both positions are available.

These accommodations are generally considered reasonable because they are not excessively burdensome for the employer. Accommodations might not be considered reasonable if they are extremely costly for the employer, if the accommodation would create a safety hazard, or if the accommodation would disrupt the company's functioning.

What Other Anti-Discrimination Protections do Pregnant and Disabled Workers Have?

Generally, employers are forbidden from taking any adverse employment action against a worker because of the worker's disability or pregnancy. Adverse action includes being fired, demoted, not hired, or having your pay or benefits cut. It may also include being singled out for undesirable job duties. Workers who use FMLA to take time away from work to cope with illness or to welcome a new child to the household are also protected against adverse employment action. New parents and women who are experiencing pregnancy complications often use FMLA to supplement parental leave.

If an employee is harassed at work due to being pregnant or having a disability, the employee may have a claim for hostile work environment. Employees should not be singled out for using accommodations, and employers should not ask for the employee's private health information beyond what is necessary to provide accommodations.

Contact a Wheaton, IL Disability and Pregnancy Discrimination Attorney

JSL Law, LLC is committed to ensuring that pregnant and disabled workers receive fair treatment in the workplace. Experienced Wheaton reasonable accommodations lawyer Jolianne Alexander will do all she can to see that your rights as a pregnant or disabled employee are protected. Contact us at 630-730-8135 for a complimentary consultation.