Disappointing accommodation process led to withdrawal of acceptance
Pros
None. They discriminate against the disabled.
Cons
I accepted an offer with this company and was genuinely excited to begin my new role. Before my start date, my severe medical condition worsened, and my pulmonologist submitted documentation requesting a fully remote accommodation due to the significant health risks associated with unnecessary in-person exposure. Instead of engaging in what I felt was a meaningful discussion about possible accommodations, my start date was postponed and I was asked to provide additional medical documentation after my physician had already explained my functional limitations and recommended accommodation. At no point during the process was I offered an alternative accommodation or presented with other options to discuss. The company maintained that attendance at an in-person vendor training in Minnesota was an essential requirement of the position and indicated that the training was not available virtually. As someone who successfully worked remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, I found it difficult to understand why a technology company was unwilling or unable to explore whether any reasonable alternative could be considered. As someone who served as a union representative for the United Federation of Teachers for many years, I participated in numerous workplace accommodation matters. I understand that employers are not required to grant every requested accommodation, but I also believe employees deserve a timely, respectful, and genuine interactive process. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. I was also disappointed that several significant communications regarding my employment and accommodation were sent after normal business hours, prolonging an already stressful situation. Ultimately, I chose to withdraw my acceptance because I lost confidence in the way my accommodation request was being handled. I cannot speak to the experiences of others, but I believe prospective employees—especially those who may one day require a workplace accommodation—should know about my experience so they can make their own informed decisions. This review reflects my personal experience with the company's accommodation process.
