What is the Duty to Accommodate?

Employers and service providers have an obligation to adjust rules, policies, or practices to enable you to participate fully. It applies to needs that are related to the grounds of discrimination. This is called the duty to accommodate.

The duty to accommodate means that sometimes it is necessary to treat someone differently in order to prevent or reduce discrimination. For example, asking all job applicants to pass a written test may not be fair to a person with a visual disability. In such cases, the duty to accommodate may require that alternative arrangements be made to ensure that a person or group can fully participate.

Examples of Duty to Accommodate

1. Providing a special screen and software for people with visual impairment.
2. Allowing an employee to take time off to attend a medical appointment.
3. Managing an employee’s schedule in a way that balances their work and caregiving obligations.
4. Making wheelchair access available to people with disabilities.