JAN Newsletter - May 2024

Question

Requesting and negotiating workplace accommodations can be stressful, especially for employees who are experiencing a flare-up of a mental health condition. What are some best practices for conducting the interactive process to make it as stress-free as possible?

Answer

Open communication is the first and foremost way to reduce the stress employees may feel during the interactive process. Anxiety and stress can build when an employee has disclosed their personal information, asked for assistance in the workplace, and then hears nothing in return from the employer. Notifying an employee as soon as possible that their accommodation request has been received and is being processed is a way to help reduce uncertainty and stress associated with the interactive process. Outlining next steps so the employee knows exactly what to expect is vital. This can help ease feelings of stress during what could be an anxiety-producing process. If the employer needs additional information from the employee, they should request it quickly, so the process is not delayed. Accommodations should be provided as expeditiously as possible. For this to happen, both parties need to cooperate and be responsive. Additional strategies for conducting the interactive process can be found in JAN’s Interactive Process and Why Communication Is Key to the Accommodation Process.

Whether onsite or working remotely, everyone deals with workplace stress to some degree. Workers with disabilities, some of whom may be coping with complex and wide-ranging difficulties, may need reasonable accommodations for managing stress in the workplace. To explore effective and appropriate accommodation solutions, employers can start by identifying the source of workplace stress for the employee. For more information and accommodation ideas, visit JAN’s Dealing with Stress in the Workplace, Part 2.

• 2024 Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit
• Accommodating Employees with Diverse Cognitive and Neurological Needs (JAN Training)
• Accommodating Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
• Accommodation and Compliance: Anxiety Disorder
• Accommodation and Compliance Series: Interactive Process
• Accommodation and Compliance: Mental Health Conditions
• Accommodations for Difficulties with Assisting Others on the Telephone Due to Stress, Anxiety, and Interpersonal Communications
• Campaign for Disability Employment “Mental Health at Work: What Can I Do?” PSA
• Communication Difficulties in the Workplace
• Dealing with Stress in the Workplace
• Dealing with Stress in the Workplace, Part 2
• ODEP News Brief – Mental Health Awareness Month Special Edition
• Why Communication Is Key to the Accommodation Process
• Youth Employment: A Foundation for Mental Health and Well-Being

May JAN Webcast Now Available

Members of the JAN Cognitive/Neurological Team consulting staff recently engaged in an interactive discussion about trending job accommodation and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) topics. During the “Ask JAN! Q&A: Cognitive/Neurological Team Edition” webcast, the team fielded questions related to cognitive/neurological health conditions, such as mental health conditions, learning disabilities, seizure disorders, and neurodiversity, and discussed accommodation topics related to communication, reducing stress and anxiety, executive functioning difficulties, and more.

• View the JAN Cognitive and Neurological Q&A

Follow JAN on Social Media for Essential Strategies and Solutions

Staying informed about strategies for providing effective job accommodation solutions is vital for creating inclusive workplaces. Following the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) on social media is an easy way to access practical and timely resources. JAN offers invaluable insights, practical ideas, and updates on best practices for accommodating employees with disabilities. JAN’s content on social media helps employers and individuals stay up-to-date with the latest trends and expert guidance on job accommodations. Find the Job Accommodation Network on Facebook and LinkedIn, @JANatJAN on X, and JAN information on YouTube.

• Follow JAN on social media

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Theme Announced

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) recently announced the 2024 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme. NDEAM takes place in October and is an annual celebration of the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. Watch the video from ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn Williams where she reveals this year’s theme.

• View ODEP’s NDEAM theme announcement

News Brief Highlights Workplace Mental Health Resources

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) published a special edition of its News Brief highlighting resources to help employers, workers, and policymakers learn about and take action to support workforce mental health.

• Read ODEP’s Mental Health Awareness Month News Brief