You’ve been with the company for years, but then you are injured in a car crash or you develop symptoms of a serious illness. All of a sudden, what you can do on the job changes dramatically. You may need support to keep working because of your medical condition.
All too often, workers unfamiliar with their employment rights may quit their jobs or try to retire early because they can’t do the same work they’ve been doing. Other times, companies write up or fire workers because of changes to their performance caused by medical issues.
Terminating, demoting or otherwise punishing you because of a medical condition is not an appropriate response by your employer. That behavior could actually be a violation of your rights.
Workers with disabling medical conditions deserve support
Whether you need assistive technology at your desk or a ramp to access the building in a wheelchair, federal law protects the right of workers to ask for reasonable medical accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies not just to those with congenital medical conditions but also acquired conditions that develop later in life.
When you have a medical condition that affects your ability to do your job but doesn’t completely prevent you from working, you should receive the help you need to stay employed. You can ask for reasonable accommodations like support from your employer so that you can work from home. Provided those accommodations won’t cause hardship for the company, you should be able to trust that your employer will help you stay on the job.
If you believe that you were fired because of a medical condition, find out more about wrongful termination and whether you have the right to take legal action.