Principles of Accommodation
Guidelines for an Inclusive Workplace
- Diversity
- Accommodation helps build a healthy and positive atmosphere at work. It supports the idea that everyone is valuable and should be treated with dignity.
- Accommodation promotes diversity. It is one way to make sure that workplace policies, practices and facilities reflect all members of society.
- Equality
- Some people or groups of people may have to be treated differently at work. This does not mean they are getting "special treatment". Taking away the barriers that keep them from being equal gives them the same benefits and opportunities as persons who do not have disabilities.
- Accommodation works best when it helps make sure that everyone can fully use opportunities and services. It also makes sure that employers - and society - can realize the full potential of the workforce.
- Individual
- Each accommodation is different. It must solve the challenge for that specific employer and employee.
- Respect
- A successful accommodation solution must respect the dignity of the person being accommodated.
- Process
- Employers and employees can only find accommodation solutions if the people involved can talk openly about different options.
- The employee and their supervisor must talk. If the employee is represented by a union, they should include a union representative.
- The best accommodation solutions balance different needs. Good solutions support the person with a disability to do their job, support their co-workers, and allow the employer to operate well.
- Accommodation is an ongoing process. People must take the time to review every option to find the best one. Once a solution is in place, people must talk about how it is working.
Accommodation is all about balance. The goal is equal access to opportunities at work. Everyone should be able to do their best at work. Barriers that keep them from doing their best should be taken away.
