The EEOC alleged in its first disability accommodation lawsuit connected to the pandemic that a health and safety manager in Georgia was fired after her employer denied her request to continue working from home because her heart condition heightened her Covid-19 risk.
The complaint states that the facility management company with headquarters in San Antonio, denied Ronisha Moncrief’s accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Covid-19 pandemic led to teleworking arrangements for many employees. Even prior to the pandemic the EEOC and disability advocates have looked to telework as a reasonable disability accommodation.
In this particular case, of employees were required to work remotely from March 2020 to June 2020. When the facility reopened, she asked to work remotely two days per week and take frequent breaks while working on-site because of her pulmonary condition, which causes her to have difficulty breathing, according to the EEOC’s complaint. The agency states that though other employees were allowed to continue to work from home, her request was denied and she was fired, the agency.
As this and more similar actions play out in court it will provide employers with more of a tangible framework for looking at ADA telework requests. The ADA requires that employers make reasonable accommodations for employees to perform their essential job functions.
Any of our clients or employees who have questions regarding reasonable accommodations should contact us for assistance in navigating the law and each specific request.