Sleeping Problems

KP68

Employee has ADD and although her physician indicated that the disability does NOT affect the essential functions of her job, she did recommend that we allow some flexibility in her work hours, as the ADD affects her concentration, sleep and sense of time. She is taking medications that, according to the doctor, have 'improved her concentration and decreased her disability'.

Do we accommodate this request for flexible hours? She has been late on several occasions due to this. She is willing to work later to make up the time, but I don't know that this is 'reasonable' and want to know if we are required to make this accommodation.

Can't we just make the suggestion to get up earlier? Could it be that simple?

Your feedback is appreciated.

Donna Banker

My 9 yr old has ADHD, and mornings are his worst time for concentrating, getting things done, etc. I have to remind him over and over to get his clothes on, brush his teeth, etc.

Getting up earlier may not be the solution. My suggestion would be to accommodate her if you possibly can and if it does not disrupt your workflow, and if she is an otherwise good employee.

The only other suggestion I can give (more to her than you) is for her to eat breakfast as soon as she gets up and take her meds if she isn't already doing this; it can take up to 1 1/2 hours before the stimulant begins working. She could also get her clothes ready the night before, pack her lunch the night before, etc. to decrease the amount of time she needed to get ready in the mornings. (My son has no sense of time either - seems to go with the territory).

Theresa Gegen TX

Whether or not her requested accomodation is "reasonable" depends on the nature of her job.

IF being there in the morning is essential to her job (for example, imagine a donut shop that gets most its business before 10AM), then her request is not reasonable.

But if the nature of work is not impinged by her flexible hours, her request may be reasonble.

You need to look at the burden on the actual work to determine wheter it is reasonable.

good luck!