Autoimmune conditions can – potentially in ongoing and/or intermittent ways – significantly impact an individual’s ability to perform everyday tasks, including their job duties. Whether an autoimmune condition qualifies as a disability in the workplace depends on several factors, including the severity of the condition and how it affects an employee’s ability to work.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws, employees with autoimmune conditions may be entitled to certain protections and accommodations. The ADA defines a disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Many autoimmune conditions meet this definition, especially if they cause symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, mobility issues and/or cognitive impairments that interfere with an employee’s ability to perform their job.
For example, an employee with rheumatoid arthritis may struggle with tasks that require fine motor skills, or someone with multiple sclerosis may experience frequent fatigue that affects their concentration and productivity. In these cases, the autoimmune condition at issue could be considered a disability under the ADA, entitling the employee to reasonable accommodations in the workplace. This is true regardless of whether a worker’s challenges are ongoing or intermittent. It is the nature of a worker’s unique challenges that impacts the kinds of reasonable accommodations to which they are legally entitled.
Accommodating an autoimmune condition
If an autoimmune condition qualifies as a disability, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to help the employee perform their job unless doing so would cause undue hardship to the business. Reasonable accommodations for autoimmune conditions could include:
- Flexible work hours or the ability to work from home to manage symptoms or medical appointments
- Modifications to the work environment, such as ergonomic workstations or seating arrangements
- Adjusted job duties or the reassignment of non-essential tasks
- Extended breaks or the ability to take intermittent leave when symptoms flare up
With this said, it’s worth noting that every autoimmune condition “behaves” differently. Those who aren’t getting the specific accommodations that they require can potentially benefit from exploring their rights and legal options accordingly.