How long should it take to get a reasonable accommodation for my job?

The regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) do not specify how long the reasonable accommodation process should take. However, the process should be accomplished as quickly as possible. The employer must engage in the reasonable accommodation process and not ignore a request. It may take time, however, to determine and provide the accommodation depending on what is needed.

The EEOC is the federal agency that enforces the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In their Enforcement Guidance, Reasonable Accommodation and Undue Hardship Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the EEOC states the following about the timing.

“10. How quickly must an employer respond to a request for reasonable accommodation?

An employer should respond expeditiously to a request for reasonable accommodation. If the employer and the individual with a disability need to engage in an interactive process, this too should proceed as quickly as possible.(37) Similarly, the employer should act promptly to provide the reasonable accommodation. Unnecessary delays can result in a violation of the ADA.(38)”