The Americans with Disabilities Act, also known as the ADA, is actually a part of Title VII legislation and also applies only to employers with 15 or more employees. The ADA covers those who:
- have a long-term physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more life activities
- have a history of such impairment
- are regarded as having such an impairment
As an employer, you must reasonably accommodate all individuals covered by the law, and you cannot do any of the following:
- adopt different pay scales, benefits programs, or promotion opportunities for the protected group (assuming the differences harm the protected group)
- enter into contracts with other companies that would have the effect of discriminating against your employees
- discriminate against an employee in any term and condition of employment because a family member or friend was covered under the protection of the ADA
- make employment decisions based on generalizations about a disability rather than the facts of a specific case
The ADA also affects such areas of employment as pre-employment medical exams, pre-employment inquiries about physical ability, job descriptions, job qualifications, absenteeism, and worker safety.