Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) is a legal act that impacts the relationships between employees with disabilities. According to ADA, the employer has to make his decision solely based on the job-related skills and knowledge of a candidate. There are numerous instances where a health condition can hinder a person’s abilities to perform basic life functions can be hindered. Such activities may involve bending, sitting, dressing, eating, walking, remembering or processing insulin. However, such disabilities may not affect the way people perform their responsibilities in the workplace. Therefore, ADA protects disabled people from discrimination based on their impairment and provides them with the opportunity to contribute to society and earn a stable income.
The effect of ADA on the workplace is positive as they encourage inclusive culture and create a diverse environment, where workers are evaluated based on their performance and productivity. The limits of ADA are extended by cases such as Karrakker vs Rent-A-Center. The case represented the issue of using psychological tests in the employer’s decision-making process of promoting its employees. Rent-A-Center conducted the APT Management Trainee-Executive Profile test on its employees to evaluate some of the personal traits of workers as well as their skills in language and math. The 502 questions for the test were taken from the MMPI. Three Karrakker brothers performed poorly on the test and were not promoted as a result (Blanck, 2019). The court found that the use of MMPI by the employer could potentially hurt the employment or promotion prospects of a person with mental impairment; hence, it is considered a violation of ADA.
Therefore, adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act is essential for conducting legal and fair employment relations. An impairment should neither determine a workers’ value to the company nor his employment or promotion. ADA also contributes to a safer and more diverse environment in the workplace, which includes people from different backgrounds who are focused and united by a common goal.
Reference
Blanck, P. (2019). Why America is better off because of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Touro L. Rev., 35, 605.