Final answer:
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, employers are mandated to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. A flexible start time may be deemed a reasonable accommodation for a client with major depression, as it allows them to manage their condition more effectively while balancing work demands.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities to help them perform their jobs effectively. In the scenario where an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR®), is seeking accommodations for a client with major depression, several options could be considered reasonable accommodations. Employers cannot discriminate against individuals based on a disability and are obliged to accommodate their work environment and schedule where feasible.
Among the options listed:
- Flexibility in start times may count as a reasonable accommodation, as it would allow the client to begin their workday when they are able to do so and manage their condition more effectively.
- Job sharing, where the client could share job responsibilities with another coworker, might also be an option, contingent upon the employer's capacity to implement such an arrangement.
Options such as working 3 hours per day or taking a 3-hour break in the middle of the day might be less practical from a business standpoint and not generally be considered reasonable unless they can be implemented without causing undue hardship for the employer.
It is important for the OTR to advocate for accommodations that will support the client's needs without imposing significant difficulty or expense upon the employer. In this situation, suggesting a flexible start time may be a reasonable request for accommodation.