How does the ADA protect Wisconsin employees?

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability have the right to work, just like any other American citizen. The law protects these individuals from being discriminated against in the workplace, both while they are working and before they even get hired. In addition, workers whose relatives are disabled may also be covered by the ADA.

As mentioned before, protection from the ADA begins before your first day on the job. Employers are not legally allowed to not hire you just because of your disability. If they do hire you, reasonable accommodations must be made to make sure you can work. This can be anything from allowing your service animal to work with you, to providing a ramp at the entrance if you need one. The exception is if making reasonable accommodations presents undue hardship to the employer.

You are also protected from any kind of harassment due to your disability. It is important for employers to make sure their employees know what constitutes harassment so it can be avoided. Not doing so could lead to a lawsuit. Finally, making employment decisions based on someone’s disability is illegal. This includes compensation or promotions, firing and other actions based solely on a disability.

While many Wisconsin workplaces must follow the regulations set out by the ADA, some do not. In addition, this blog only presents a very truncated version of the law. If you are unsure if you are protected, or if you have faced disability discrimination, it may be beneficial to speak with an employment law attorney. 

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