The employer’s duty to accommodate in the workplace

Key takeaways

Accommodating employees with health issues is the right thing to do for you and your business and for them.
Know where to find reliable information on the duty to accommodate.
There are many legal considerations, but there are lots of resources you can access.

Become familiar with human rights laws that apply to your workplace

As an employer, you need to be aware of human rights laws that apply to your workplace. Become familiar with some important human rights concepts and responsibilities, such as:

The prohibited grounds of discrimination
The concepts of accommodation and undue hardship
Your responsibilities as an employer in the accommodation process
The responsibilities of the employee and the labour union, as appropriate

Here are some resources that may help you find the information you need.

Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Government of Canada

What is the Duty to AccommodateOpens a new website in a new window? Canadian Human Rights Commission
Accommodation Works! A user-friendly guide to working together on health issues in the workplace | PDF 475kbOpens a new website in a new window Canadian Human Rights Commission

Provincial and territorial human rights agencies

Search each province's or territory's human rights agency website for specific information on workplace accommodations in your region. Most of them present detailed, step-by-step guides to help you and your employee through an accommodation process.

Gather and read through helpful resources

Determine what your duties or the duties of others are in the accommodation process.
Consult with a human resources professional, your legal counsel or contact a Human Rights Commission.

What's next?

Let Canada Life help you accommodate an employee. We can:

Gather medical and functional information that relates to your employee’s restrictions and limitations, while preserving your employee’s privacy.
Suggest and support the implementation of viable and realistic accommodation solutions.
Support your employees with a treatment plan to help them improve their level of function at work.

The information provided is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of the date of publication, but rules and interpretations may change.

This information is general in nature, and is intended for informational purposes only. For specific situations you should consult the appropriate legal, accounting or tax advisor.