ADA Standards Required in Puerto Rico

Sometimes a meeting seems like a treacherous journey.  Imagine if you couldn’t exit to use the bathroom!  When a job candidate is hired, a commitment is made to that employee to make sure that time spent working is spent in a safe and dignified manner.

This week the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Juan, Puerto Rico, charging the Puerto Rico Department of Justice (PRDOJ) with employment discrimination for failing to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee with a disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The United States claims that the PRDOJ purposely made it nearly impossible for one of its workers to exist in the workplace.  The worker, who uses a wheelchair, was relocated to a building that was inaccessible to her.  She was not able to enter the building without relying on other employees’ help.  And she was not able to use the restroom during the entirety of the work day.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act protects an employee’s right to work in an environment that is free of unnecessary barriers to access,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting the employment rights of individuals with disabilities, who should not be relegated to working in locations that result in unequal and, in this case, unsafe and undignified working conditions.”

Empowering and attracting employees with disabilities should be a part of every company’s recruitment initiatives. It is likely that your employees have safe working conditions, but does your company provide accommodations above and beyond the minimum standards? If your company does, it’s important to include and highlight this information in your employment branding on your website and even in your job posts. If your company can be known as an exemplary employer for employees of all types, it will of course be easier to attract and retain top talent.