Accommodations
Examples of Workplace Accommodations
Example of a successful accommodation
An employee having trouble standing for long periods of time was given an anti-fatigue mat to help when standing and a stool that could be adjusted to standing height if they needed to sit.
Here are several ideas for accommodations for employees with arthritis, joint pain, and back pain:
Modifications that maintain productivity
- Trading or sharing tasks instead of offloading or reducing tasks
- Providing flexibility in the way work is organized (e.g., the order tasks need to be done; increasing the variety of tasks)
- Increasing flexibility in working hours (e.g., adjusting start time or working from home)
- Allowing additional breaks or more frequent micro-breaks
- Providing more flexibility and autonomy in general
Changes to the workspace
- Ergonomic changes to a workstation, such as adjusting chair arm rests or monitor level to recommended positions
- Providing equipment or technological and assistive devices (e.g., standing desks, carts)
- Improvements to access (e.g., parking, classroom/office location, position of light switches, automatic doors)
More significant accommodations
- Changing job responsibilities
- Modifying work tools (e.g., tools to help with grasping)
- Allocating a steady stream of work so the employee can pace work and avoid last minute deadlines
- Transferring to another position temporarily or permanently
Ergonomics in accommodations
The goal of ergonomics is to create a balance at work between the demands of the job and the abilities of the employee. When job demands and worker capabilities are in balance, there is less risk of the job worsening symptoms of arthritis (e.g., flare-ups, pain, and fatigue). Understanding job demands, their impact on employees, and employees’ capabilities and limitations, leads to more effective ergonomic accommodations.
Examples of job demands
- Prolonged sitting
- Repetitive motions, lifting heavy objects
- Awkward postures, static postures
- Pushing, pulling, and carrying
- Workplace stress
Examples of employee limitations
- Stiffness when sitting for prolonged periods
- Pain while typing
- Unable to lift arms above the head
- Fatigue