Employment Accommodations

Westminster University implements exploration of possible workplace reasonable accommodations for faculty and staff with disabilities who request them under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the American with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA).

A reasonable accommodation is any change or adjustment to a job or work environment that permits a person with a disability to participate in the job application process, to perform the essential functions of a job, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of employment equal to those enjoyed by staff without disabilities. For example, a reasonable accommodation may include, but is not limited to: 

• Acquiring or modifying equipment or devices 
• Job restructuring 
• Modified work schedules 
• Removing readily achievable barriers 

Westminster provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with disabilities.

ADA Accommodations Procedures

Westminster University supports the rights of lactating parents at school and in the workplace. In accordance with Title IX, the Affordable Care Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act, Westminster is dedicated to making its best efforts to accommodate requests for a private space to express breastmilk on campus and to use employee break time or leave for that purpose.

Westminster provides employees with private rooms where they can feed infants or use a pump. There are two lactation rooms on campus: Giovale Library 033 and Florence J. Gillmor Hall 102. The lactation rooms are shielded from view, have locking doors with occupied/vacant indicators, and have a chair, sink, and refrigerator. Lactation rooms may be used on a walk-in basis or reserved.

Learn more about lactation rooms

Westminster provides staff with reasonable break time for up to 1 year after they give birth to express milk. Staff may work online, utilize their paid break periods to express milk, use medical leave, take an unpaid break period, or make up the time used by starting work earlier or staying late with permission from their supervisor.

Pregnancy accommodations for employees is governed by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964. Westminster provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees who require a temporary change to how, when, or where work is done due to pregnancy or related conditions. Westminster also provides pregnancy and parental leaves of absence to all eligible employees in accordance with these laws.

If you are pregnant or are recovering from childbirth, you may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation to allow you to perform the essential functions of your job. Some examples are:

• Bathroom breaks
• Breaks to facilitate increased water intake
• Periodic rest if you stand for long periods of time
• Assistance with manual labor
• Changes to your work environment
• Unpaid medical leave

Employees and applicants who have a temporary disability caused by or contributed to pregnancy are not required to advise Westminster University of their pregnancies if they do not wish to, and may initiate a request for an accommodation due to disability in the same manner as non-pregnant employees and applicants (see information on disability accommodations).

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires reasonable accommodation of religious beliefs or practices of employees and applicants. Westminster University respects the religious beliefs and practices of all and will provide reasonable accommodations for the observances of its employees and qualified applicants.

Religious accommodations are coordinated through the Office of Equal Opportunity under the university’s Equal Opportunity Policy.