#WorkforceWednesday: Remote Work and Disability Discrimination: What Employers Need to Know
Wed Feb 04 2026
A recent federal ruling clarified that denying a request for full-time remote work as a disability accommodation does not, by itself, constitute discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Rehabilitation Act.
Key Takeaways for Employers
Interactive Process: Employers must engage in a documented, good-faith interactive process and consider reasonable alternative accommodations when evaluating remote-work requests. Essential Functions: Employers may require in-person attendance where it is essential to job performance, even in a post-pandemic workplace. Retaliation Risk: Even where denying remote work is lawful, retaliation claims may still arise based on the timing or circumstances of the denial. In this episode of Employment Law This Week®, Epstein Becker Green attorney Eric I. Emanuelson, Jr., discusses what the ruling means for employers navigating remote work requests and disability accommodations.
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Epstein Becker Green is a national law firm that focuses its resources on health care, life sciences, and workforce management solutions, coupled with powerful litigation strategies.
This video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this video does not create an attorney-client relationship.
EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS WEEK® and #WorkforceWednesday® are registered trademarks of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
© Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. All Rights Reserved. Attorney Advertising.
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A recent federal ruling clarified that denying a request for full-time remote work as a disability accommodation does not, by itself, constitute discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or the Rehabilitation Act. Key Takeaways for Employers Interactive Process: Employers must engage in a documented, good-faith interactive process and consider reasonable alternative accommodations when evaluating remote-work requests. Essential Functions: Employers may require in-person attendance where it is essential to job performance, even in a post-pandemic workplace. Retaliation Risk: Even where denying remote work is lawful, retaliation claims may still arise based on the timing or circumstances of the denial. In this episode of Employment Law This Week®, Epstein Becker Green attorney Eric I. Emanuelson, Jr., discusses what the ruling means for employers navigating remote work requests and disability accommodations. - Visit our site for this week's Other Highlights and links: https://www.ebglaw.com/eltw420 Download our Wage & Hour Guide for Employers app: https://www.ebglaw.com/wage-hour-guide-for-employers-app. Subscribe to #WorkforceWednesday: https://www.ebglaw.com/eltw-subscribe Visit http://www.EmploymentLawThisWeek.com - Epstein Becker Green is a national law firm that focuses its resources on health care, life sciences, and workforce management solutions, coupled with powerful litigation strategies. This video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this video does not create an attorney-client relationship. EMPLOYMENT LAW THIS WEEK® and #WorkforceWednesday® are registered trademarks of Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. © Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. All Rights Reserved. Attorney Advertising.