Disabilities - how far?

[Lynda/WA]

Heard about this on talk radio today. They mentioned it was in the paper but I haven't looked yet.

First off - Do you think companies should be required to hire people with disabilities if it means they (worker and company) are less effective?

Here's the case that was causing controversy. I woman worked for a company and was then diagnosed as having OCD - or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. At first the company was very accomedating. Sounds like they encouraged her to get help and were giving her plenty of time off as well as leeway. It reached the point were she sould be 5-6 hours late for work daily because she said she had to do her hair. They fired her (after at least months). She took it to court under the disabilities act. The court ruled against her. She appealed and won.

How far should companies go to accomidate people with special needs? If someone is diagnosed with agrophobia, should the company be forced to keep this person on their payrole even if they are afraid to leave the house?

[MK]

That's a tough one! The store I work in is really good about accomodating people with disabilities, has a policy about it, and has even received community awards for it. But... being a grocery store we have some other policies which make it hard to be accommodating, like striving for superior customer service. We have a few baggers with challenges such as mental retardation which make them really slow. This isn't fair to either the customers or them-- particularly if they happen to get "zapped" by a Mystery Shopper. They don't stand a chance at getting a good grade, and therefore miss out on the monetary reward for a good score. Most of these people have a "job coach" who comes and helps them acclimate to their work and makes sure they know what they're doing. Other policies, just due to the nature of the job require all associates to be able to lift at least 40 lbs. or more, and to be able to stand for long periods of time. Obviously people with serious orthopedic problems are going to find this job hazardous, if not impossible. People with severe social anxiety wouldn't be able to work here either. It's just the nature of the job. If you can't do the work, you need to keep looking elsewhere.

[Diane]

Originally posted by Lynda/WA
Heard about this on talk radio today. They mentioned it was in the paper but I haven't looked yet.

First off - Do you think companies should be required to hire people with disabilities if it means they (worker and company) are less effective?

Here's the case that was causing controversy. I woman worked for a company and was then diagnosed as having OCD - or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. At first the company was very accomedating. Sounds like they encouraged her to get help and were giving her plenty of time off as well as leeway. It reached the point were she sould be 5-6 hours late for work daily because she said she had to do her hair. They fired her (after at least months). She took it to court under the disabilities act. The court ruled against her. She appealed and won.

How far should companies go to accomidate people with special needs? If someone is diagnosed with agrophobia, should the company be forced to keep this person on their payrole even if they are afraid to leave the house?


I really appreciate seeing a company that will hire people with disabilities... but if, for some reason that person doesn't work out and can't do the job that they were hired to do, they should be able to let them go and hire somebody else who can. My BIL is wheelchair bound, paralized from the chest down (for 6 years) and he never expected anybody to hire him for a job unless he could do it. If they gave him the chance... he appreciated the opportunity to try... but if he found he couldn't do it, he moved on. Now he's found a job he works hard at and he does very well. IMHO when you hire ANYBODY... disabled or not, if they don't/can't do the job their expected to do, a company shouldn't be forced to keep them on their payroll. It's going to get to the point where companies aren't going to even willing to try hiring a handicapped/disabled person for fear of getting STUCK with them or sued if they decide to let them go. They won't want to risk it.