Covid & Employment Disability Law Update – July 2021
On July 26, 2021, the U.S. government issued guidance on Covid or Long Covid as a disability under the ADA. According to the DOJ’s Covid Disability guidance sheet, Long Covid may be considered a disability if it substantially limits one or more major life activities.
An employer may be required to make reasonable accommodations for employees suffering from Long Covid symptoms. In addition, employees who have been terminated, rejected from a position, barred from a promotion or otherwise retaliated against due to Long Covid may have valid claims under the ADA.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Protects Disabled Workers
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted to prevent employers from discriminating against an employee or job applicant with a disability. But what does it mean to discriminate due to an employee’s physical, medical or mental health impairment?
Disability discrimination takes many forms:
- rejected for a position,
- barred from a promotion,
- fired or terminated,
- harassed or singled out by colleagues or even supervisors.
All of these are unlawful in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
If you’ve experienced discrimination because of your disability in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you don’t have to remain silent or accept your employer’s actions.
Our Philadelphia employment law firm accepts disability discrimination matters throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Find out if you have legal rights for disability discrimination at work. Contact our employment law firm for a free, no obligation consultation.
(March 14, 2021)