Did you know that about 61 million Americans live with a disability? With so many people in the United States suffering from a disability, you may end up hiring someone that has a disability.

In this situation, you need to know what you are legally responsible to provide as an employer. Also, you may need some help to get a better idea of how to efficiently run this work environment. 

If this is the case with your company, then disability management consulting is what you need. 

What is disability management? How will your company make it work? 

This is your guide. 

Knowing ADA Requirements 

The first thing that you should do is familiarize yourself with ADA requirements. For those of you that do not know, this is the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

This act helps give people with disabilities not only more rights in the workplace, but in public businesses in general. 

An example could be having access to proper toilets. Every business of a certain size has to have at least one handicap accessible bathroom. If you are using porta potties for an outdoor event, at least 5% of them need to have that handicap access. 

However, this is not limited to just toilets. Public businesses may be required to install ramps to fit the needs of those with a disability. 

Now, let’s take this need to an office. Wider spaces may need to be arranged to allow open access to someone with a disability. 

On top of this, if someone requires a service dog to get around, then a business has to comply with that. Also, access to things to enhance communication such as closed caption may be of use as well. 

Disability Management

Now that we have discussed the requirements of certain businesses to be accommodating, let’s dive into disability management. When a business hires someone with a disability, they cannot fire a person for that reason. If they do, it can lead to a discrimination lawsuit. 

So, there needs to be solutions and active efforts made to accommodate the person that has a disability. One way that you can do this is by assigning jobs that may be easier for that person to do. 

For example, if someone is in a wheelchair, have them do a job like data entry that does not force them to leave the computer much. Or, if someone has difficulty hearing, perhaps do not put them on customer service or sales calls. 

Related article: “Disability Leave Services: Short Term vs Long Term”

Get Disability Management Consulting

These are a few things that you need to be aware of in the workplace. Your business needs to accommodate not only customers coming in that might have a disability, but also potential employees as well. If you do, you can create a more inclusive workspace and avoid a discrimination lawsuit. 

To take a step in the right direction, your company may need disability management consulting.  If you need expert consultation, contact one of our vocational experts today to get one-on-one assistance. 

At Solutions Northwest Inc., our vocational experts are involved in  ADA Accommodations , personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

There are 18.5 million disabled people in today’s workforce. As a business owner, manager, or HR professional, you more than likely have run into a disability or reasonable accommodation request from an employee.

So, what exactly is disability leave? And what are you required to do as a business owner or manager? Keep reading to learn more about disability leave services and how to manage them for your employees. 

What is Disability Leave? 

Employees who have a disability and need to take leave from work can based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations for employees. This includes employee disability leave. 

The ADA defines a “disability” as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This also includes the ability to perform such major life activities or in the workforce.

Disability Leave for Workers

There are two types of leave for employee disability claims. They are as follows: 

• Short-Term Disability Leave – Short-term disability leave is a benefit that employers have to provide to their employees. It’s a type of insurance that covers income and health benefits if an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury.

  The employer has to provide this benefit to maintain compliance with the law. They also want their employees’ well-being, so they offer this benefit to keep them safe.

• Long-Term Disability Leave – Long-term disability leave is a type of insurance that employers have to pay for to provide their employees with financial protection. It provides the employee who is unable to work due to an illness or injury with income while they are out of work.

  Employers usually offer long-term disability as a supplement to short-term disability. Short-term disability only provides income for a maximum of six months. This type of leave is usually offered as part of an employee’s benefits package. It may also be a part of the employer’s group health insurance plan.

Disability Leave Management 

Managing disability leave for employees is a time-consuming and expensive process.

Employers that have more than 50 employees have to pay their employees on disability leave regular wages. Employers must also keep paying their insurance premiums while they are on disability leave.

Some employers decide to offer a reduced work schedule during the time of their employee’s disability. This is a good option for employers as it doesn’t require them to hire a new person or pay overtime when the disabled employee returns to work.

Learn More About Disability Leave Services

This article covered disability leave services that businesses have to provide employees. We hope you have a better understanding of the types of leave you have to offer employees. If you need expert consultation on ADA accommodations or disability leave, contact one of our vocational experts today to get one-on-one assistance. 

At Solutions Northwest Inc., our vocational experts are involved in  ADA Accommodations , personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Disability Leave Services: Short Term vs Long Term Disability

Should you provide short-term disability or long-term disability leave services to your employees? State and federal laws may require that you provide these services, so it’s important to understand the difference between the two before making a decision.

Both short-term disability and long-term disability have their benefits. In this blog post, our vocational experts will help you learn about them, so you can make an informed decision for your company. So, let’s get started!

What are Disability Leave Services?

Disability leave services allow employees to take paid or unpaid leave if they are unable to work due to a physical or mental disability. Short-term disability and long-term disability are the two most common types of disability leave services. While they both provide similar benefits, there are some key differences between them.

The main difference between short-term disability and long-term disability is the length of time that they provide coverage. Short-term disability typically covers disabilities that last for a few weeks or months, while long-term disability covers disabilities that last for a year or more.

Short-term disability is typically used to cover work-related disabilities, while long-term disability is typically used to cover disabilities that are not work-related.

How Does it Benefit the Employer to Provide Disability Leave Services? 

There are several benefits to providing disability leave services to your employees. It shows that you care about your employees and their well-being. Providing these services can help reduce absenteeism and employee turnover.

It can also help improve morale and productivity. It also helps you attract and retain top talent, and comply with state and federal laws.

What is a Disability Management Consulting Service?

Disability management consulting is a service often offered by employee benefit consulting services. Disability management consultants help employers create and implement short-term disability and long-term disability leave policies. These services can help you determine which type of leave is right for your business.

Disability management consultants also help you create and implement policies that comply with state and federal laws. These disability leave management services can help you manage absences, reduce costs, improve productivity, and remain in compliance with local laws.

How Do I Implement Disability Leave Management?

Creating a short-term disability and long-term disability leave policy can be a complex process, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you will need to determine which type of leave is right for your business. You will also need to create a document that outlines your company’s short-term disability and long-term disability leave policies.

Next, you will need to train your managers and human resources staff on how to implement and enforce the policy. Finally, you will need to monitor and evaluate the policy on a regular basis to ensure that it is effective.

Contact Solutions Northwest Inc. for your Disability Management Consulting Service Needs!

Solutions Northwest Inc. is a leading consulting firm with expertise in injury prevention and intervention principles. We provide a wide range of services to help organizations manage leaves and accommodate employees with disabilities.

If you need help with disability leave management, please contact us today. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you have and provide more information about implementing disability leave services in a way that benefits all.

At Solutions Northwest Inc., our vocational experts are involved in  ADA Accommodations , personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below: