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Q: My employee has requested an accommodation. What should I do?

A: If a company qualifies as an employer under the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Washington Law Against Discrimination, a qualified disabled employee may be entitled to accommodation. If a qualified disabled employee is unable to perform her essential duties because of her disability, but could do so with a change in the work environment or conditions, and the employer is on notice of a need for accommodation, the employer and employee should engage in an interactive process to explore a reasonable accommodation. The employer is entitled to request medical certification supporting the disability and requested accommodation. Generally the employer is not obligated to grant the precise accommodation requested so long as the accommodation given is reasonable. If accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the employer, accommodation might not be required. It is often advisable to consult legal counsel when making a determination on accommodations.