IS YOUR WORK PREVENTING YOU FROM HAVING A SERVICE ANIMAL TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR DISABILITY? CALL US TODAY
California state law allows people with disabilities to bring emotional support animals or service dogs to the workplace under certain circumstances.
The Fair Employment and Housing Act protect employees and job seekers from discrimination based on physical or mental disorders. The Act requires employers to work with employees to accommodate their disabilities when possible.
This is why employers must make accommodations for service dogs, emotional support animals, and psychiatric service dogs in the workplace – if it’s practical. If you’re unsure about your rights as a disabled employee, an employment attorney in Los Angeles can help. Contacting a lawyer is a wise decision if you feel your rights have been violated.
Do California Employers Have to Follow These Rules?
The California law about accommodating support animals only applies to businesses with five or more employees. And federal disability provisions only apply to companies with at least 15 employees.
What Type of Animals Qualify as Service or Support Animals?
Not all animals can qualify as service animals or support animals. In California, an assistant animal is trained to assist a disabled person. Animals in this category include trained guide dogs, service dogs, signal dogs, and psychiatric dogs. Emotional support animals – dogs or otherwise – are included here as well. Emotional support animals support people with disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries, major depression, or other mental disorders. While a service dog is specifically trained to respond to a person’s disability, an emotional support animal doesn’t require any training – at least not according to California’s workplace disability laws.
Do Animal Owners Need to Follow Certain Rules?
California law does specify that emotional and support animal owners must meet specific requirements.
- The animal must know how to behave in the workplace, have no odors, and provide no distraction.
- The animal must not present a threat or danger to anyone in the workplace.
- The animal must serve a purpose in helping the disabled employee.
Federal law states that emotional support animals don’t require training to provide emotional support. Therefore, California employers can’t request proof that an emotional support animal has specific training to assist.
If an employer unjustly removed your support animal from the workplace, you might need to contact an employment attorney. A Los Angeles labor attorney will work to discover why your service pet is no longer allowed on the job.
Can a California Employer Ask for Proof of Disability?
If the employee’s disability isn’t obvious, the employer can request proof of disability. The employee or job applicant will have to provide documents confirming the disability and the need for accommodations.
In California, proof of disability doesn’t have to come from a healthcare provider or medical doctor. People such as clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, and therapists can provide the documentation. If someone you know was denied a job due to a disability and needs a lawyer, help is available. The Law Offices of Mann & Elias can provide you with a disability discrimination attorney for the workplace.
Does California Law cover all Employees and Job Applicants?
To receive protection under the disability law, an employee or job applicant must have a disorder or condition that prevents them from performing major life activities.
According to California law, the following disabilities get protected through the disability discrimination law:
- Intellectual or cognitive disabilities
- Emotional illnesses
- Organic brain syndrome
- Learning disabilities
- Autism and schizophrenia
- Clinical depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
California Law Vs. Federal Law
California defines disability in broader terms than the federal government does. Federal law requires that the disability substantially prevents a person from performing major life activities. A disability can have its limitations. Disabled persons are covered under state and federal discrimination law, as long as there are limitations to performing a broad range of jobs.
California has more lenient restrictions when it comes to applying for protection under its disability discrimination law. It offers more protection to disabled employees regarding service dogs and support animals in the workplace. The state also extends workplace protections to employees and job applicants with health impairments, like psychological disorders that require special education. However, they do not have to qualify as mental disabilities.
When is it Unreasonable to Request a Service Dog or Comfort Animal?
A reasonable request for a support animal is when the animal can help an employee to perform essential functions of a job. It is not unreasonable to request a service dog. Though if it causes unnecessary strain, an employer may not be required to provide one for you.
Contacting a Disability Discrimination Attorney
Have you been unfairly denied the right to have your service animal in the workplace? Do you know someone who was denied a job due to a disability and needs a lawyer for assistance? Service animals are sometimes necessary to help an employee function both on and off of the job. You can contact a Los Angeles disability discrimination attorney from The Law Offices of Mann & Elias. An employment attorney for workplace discrimination can review your situation and guide how to proceed.