Who needs to make the request for a reasonable accommodation?
It is the responsibility of the Employee, or someone acting on their behalf, to initiate the reasonable accommodation process. Many Employers have written policies on how to initiate a request. However, the law does not require the Employee to make their initial request in writing, use the words “reasonable accommodation,” or specifically reference the ADA. The Employee is only required to make the Employer aware that they need an accommodation related to a medical condition. In addition, the Employee does not need to suggest or recommend a particular type or form of accommodation at the time of the request. The initial request begins the dialogue between the Employer, Employee, and their healthcare provider to identify the functional limitations and determine the most effective form of accommodation.
