Fired After Asking For Help? Disability Retaliation In The Workplace
Introduction
It happens more often than many employees expect. An employee discloses a medical condition, asks for modified duties, requests leave, or provides a doctor’s note. Then, almost immediately, the workplace changes. The employee is written up for the first time, excluded from meetings, treated as a problem, placed on a performance improvement plan, or terminated.
The Americans With Disabilities Act, Generally
The Americans with Disabilities Act does more than prohibit disability discrimination. It also protects employees from retaliation when they request reasonable accommodations or oppose disability-related discrimination. Retaliation may occur when an employer takes a materially adverse action because an employee exercised protected rights.
Elements Of Retaliation
Timing matters. If an employee had a strong work record, requested an accommodation, and was suddenly disciplined or fired shortly afterward, that sequence may raise serious questions. Retaliation can also appear through less obvious actions, such as reduced hours, undesirable assignments, hostility from supervisors, increased scrutiny, or threats about job security.
Employers may still enforce legitimate workplace rules. However, they may not use policy enforcement as a cover for punishing an employee who asked for disability-related help. They also may not refuse to communicate about accommodations and then blame the employee for failing to perform without the support requested.
If you believe you were fired or disciplined because you requested an accommodation, preserve evidence immediately. Save your accommodation request, medical documentation, performance reviews, emails, write-ups, termination notice, attendance records, and any messages showing how management reacted. Avoid relying on memory alone. The details may matter later.
There are strict deadlines for filing employment discrimination claims. Speaking with an employment attorney early can help you understand whether your facts support a claim, what agency deadlines may apply, and what steps could protect your rights.
The Law Office of Sheri Oluyemi, LLC represents professionals seeking answers to workplace injustices, including disability discrimination, retaliation, and failure-to-accommodate concerns. If your request for help at work was followed by discipline, termination, or other negative treatment, Contact our office to discuss your situation.
Comments are closed.