Workplace Accommodations: Low Cost, High Impact

• Introduction
• Findings
• Situations and Solutions

Introduction

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act and regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission refocused attention on workplace accommodations by broadening the definition of disability; more coverage means more employees will likely be entitled to workplace accommodations. This increased attention has some employers concerned about the costs of providing job accommodations. However, a study conducted by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), shows that workplace accommodations not only are low cost, but also positively impact the workplace in many ways.

The JAN study has been on-going since 2004. JAN, in partnership with the University of Iowa’s Law, Health Policy, and Disability Center (LHPDC), interviewed 1,182 employers between January 2004 and December 2006. In addition, JAN, in partnership with the West Virginia University School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS), interviewed 723 employers between June 28, 2008, and July 31, 2012. Employers in the JAN study represented a range of industry sectors and sizes and contacted JAN for information about workplace accommodations, the ADA, or both. Approximately eight weeks after their initial contact, the employers were asked a series of questions about the situation they discussed with JAN and the quality of the services JAN provided.

The study results consistently showed that the benefits employers receive from making workplace accommodations far outweigh the low cost. Employers reported that providing accommodations resulted in such benefits as retaining valuable employees, improving productivity and morale, reducing workers’ compensation and training costs, and improving company diversity. These benefits were obtained with little investment. The employers in the study reported that a high percentage (57%) of accommodations cost absolutely nothing to make, while the rest typically cost only $500.

And to top off these positive results about the cost and benefits of workplace accommodation, the employers in the study also reported that JAN understood their needs and provided information that met their needs. In addition, 99% of employers stated that they would use JAN services again for assistance with workplace accommodations.

What is the bottom line? Workplace accommodations are low cost and high impact, and JAN can help employers make them, free of charge.

Findings

Finding #1:  Employers want to provide accommodations so they can retain valued and qualified employees. 

Of the employers who called JAN for accommodation information and solutions, most were doing so to retain or promote (83%) a current employee. On average (including those persons who had just been given a job offer or who were newly hired), the employees had been with the company about seven years, with an average wage of about $14 for those paid by the hour, or an average annual salary of about $49,700. In addition, the individuals tended to be fairly well-educated, with 47% having a college degree or higher.

Finding #2:  Most employers report no cost or low cost for accommodating employees with disabilities. 

Of the employers who gave cost information related to accommodations they had provided, 336 out of 590 (57%) said the accommodations needed by employees cost absolutely nothing. Another 221 (37%) experienced a one-time cost. Only 24 (4%) said the accommodation resulted in an ongoing, annual cost to the company and 9 (2%) said the accommodation required a combination of one-time and annual costs; however, too few of these employers provided cost data to report with accuracy. Of those accommodations that did have a cost, the typical one-time expenditure by employers was $500. When asked how much they paid for an accommodation beyond what they would have paid for an employee without a disability who was in the same position, employers typically answered around $400.

Finding #3:  Employers report accommodations are effective.

Employers who had implemented accommodations by the time they were interviewed were asked to rank the effectiveness of the accommodations on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely effective. Of those responding, 76% reported the accommodations were either very effective or extremely effective.

Finding #4:  Employers experience multiple direct and indirect benefits after making accommodations.

Employers who made accommodations for employees with disabilities reported multiple benefits as a result.  The most frequently mentioned direct benefits were: (1) the accommodation allowed the company to retain a qualified employee, (2) the accommodation increased the worker’s productivity, and (3) the accommodation eliminated the costs of training a new employee.

The most widely mentioned indirect benefits employers received were: (1) the accommodation ultimately improved interactions with co-workers, (2) the accommodation increased overall company morale, and (3) the accommodation increased overall company productivity.   The following table gives the percentage of employers who reported experiencing direct and indirect benefits as a result of having made an accommodation.

Finding #5: Employers find JAN helpful during the accommodation process.

Ninety-eight percent of employers found that JAN understood their needs. In addition, 93% of employers stated that the information JAN sent them met their needs. Overall 99% of employers stated they would use JAN again.

Situations and Solutions

Data from the past year provide insight into successful situations and solutions from various employment settings and stages, including a wide sampling of industries and business sizes.

Situation: A sales representative with a construction company experienced migraine headaches and was sensitive to office lighting.

Solution: As a reasonable accommodation, the employer modified a workplace dress code policy and allowed the employee to wear sunglasses at work.

Reported benefit: By making this accommodation the employee’s attendance improved, and the employer felt that it had accommodated a qualified employee and adhered to the ADA.

Reported cost: $0.

 

Situation: An administrative support person with hearing loss had difficulty responding to emergency signals and communicating using the telephone.

Solution: As a reasonable accommodation, the agency provided an amplified headset and strobe light for the employee’s workstation. This strobe light would let the individual know immediately when he was working at his desk and an alarm was activated.

Reported benefit: The employer was able to meet the employee’s accommodation needs; the employee and supervisor were satisfied. By providing the accommodation the employee was able to function to his maximum potential.

Reported cost: $100.

 

Situation: An attorney with a back condition worked for a court system and was required to stand for long periods.

Solution: As a reasonable accommodation, the employer purchased a stool that could be adjusted so that the individual could sit or stand comfortably.

Reported benefit: The employer stated that by making these accommodations the employee was effectively retained and able to return to work.

Reported cost: $200.

 

Situation: A veteran who worked as an insurance company representative had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury. He was sensitive to certain environmental noises. The office had recently been remodeled and rearranged, and the employee was experiencing anxiety due to audio and visual distractions in his workspace.

Solution: As a reasonable accommodation, the employer provided noise canceling headphones with white noise capabilities and noise reduction barriers in his workstation.

Reported benefit: The employer stated that the employee and his supervisor were very happy with the outcome, and the organization was glad to accommodate a veteran.

Reported cost: $350.

 

Situation: A teacher for a postsecondary institution had vision loss due glaucoma. She was having difficulty navigating around corners and being able to efficiently enter grades.

Solution: As a reasonable accommodation, the employer purchased a tablet computer for school purposes that was used to enlarge the computer system grid for inputting grades. A mirror was also strategically placed in the middle of the classroom to assist with her peripheral vision.

Reported benefit: The employer was able to meet its requirements and the individual felt more competent at work.

Reported cost: $1,000.

 

To cite: Job Accommodation Network (Original 2005, Updated 2007, Updated 2009, Updated 2010, Updated 2011, Updated 2012).Workplace accommodations: Low cost, high impact. Retrieved from http://AskJAN.org/media/LowCostHighImpact.doc

 

Updated 09/01/12