3. Ask for accommodation
Question & Answer
I need to care for a family member. What does my employer have to do?You may want to get advice from a lawyer or paralegal before you ask your employer for . For example, a lawyer or paralegal can help you decide what you need to:
- tell your employer, and
- ask your employer.
They can also talk to your employer about different ways to meet your needs.
What to tell your employer
Tell your employer why you need to care for your family member. Explain why this means that you cannot follow a workplace rule or do all your job duties. Say that you want an accommodation.
Give proof
Explain what other options you've tried or thought about to care for your relative. And let your employer know why those options do not work for you.
Your employer should have a meeting with you to talk about your needs.
If the person you're caring for has a medical condition, it helps to give your employer some information about it when you ask for accommodation.
Your employer does not have the right to know what the person's medical condition or treatment is. But you can give your employer a doctor's note that:
- confirms that the person has a medical condition,
- explains what you must do to care for the person, and
- says how long you'll need to give them care.
Your employer might also ask you questions about how your job duties and workplace rules make it hard for you to care for your relative.
Types of accommodation
Your employer might need some time to figure out whether they can make changes to the rules or your job to you.
Here are some examples of what your employer could decide. They could:
- let you work at a different job site or from home
- let you take a leave of absence to care for your sick relative
- change your schedule or how much you work for some time while you care for your relative
- give you different job duties so you can care for your relative
You must work with your employer to try to find a reasonable solution.
Your employer might not be able to accommodate you in the way you asked for if they can show it would cause them .
