Version May 2024
| Patient request for work restriction | Language used in note | Implications of this type of note on employment | How to improve note |
| "Can I have a note that states I don't have to lift and bend at work?" | "Ms. C should not lift more than 10 lbs or perform activities that require bending." | If lifting more than 10 lbs or bending are essential functions of her job, there may be no reasonable accommodation that her employer can provide. She may be required to take leave starting immediately. Once her family leave is exhausted, she must return to work or show that she has a disability requiring accommodation such as finite medical leave. If not, she can be terminated. | Lifting is not generally contraindicated in pregnancy. However, if Ms. C has back pain or pregnancy is exacerbating a back injury, accommodations may be appropriate: "Ms. C can continue to perform most functions of her job while pregnant. She has a pregnancy-related back condition that requires her to limit lifting to no more than 20 pounds twice per hour." |
| "I need to go on leave because I can't check my sugars at work." | "Ms. A needs to be able to check her blood glucose at work." | This note lacks reference to the patient's medical condition (GDM) and needs to be more specific. | Explain the implications of going on leave early in pregnancy to the patient, and suggest that accommodations will likely allow her to continue working: "Ms. A has a pregnancy-related condition called gestational diabetes that requires her to monitor her blood glucose level with a simple test and to eat small snacks every two to three hours. She will need a private space in which to check her glucose." |
| "My work is too stressful, and I'm worried it is harming my pregnancy." | "Ms. B needs to be kept in a stress-free environment during this pregnancy." | Working in a stress-filled environment may be an essential function of her job (eg, she may be an attorney, a customer service representative, or clinician). Further, removing stress is not a "reasonable" accommodation. Finally, no pregnancy-related impairment has been identified. | Given that there is no pregnancy-related impairment, it is not recommended to request accommodations. If, however, a mental health diagnosis exists, accommodations can be requested. |
| "I'm too tired to work full-time." | "Ms. D must have reduced work hours during this pregnancy." | While some employers may be able to offer part-time work, others will count this toward her leave thereby reducing the total leave available for delivery and post-partum. Intermittent leave may be a reasonable accommodation under the ADA. | Confirm fatigue is severe enough to significantly limit a major life activity. Modest modifications may be sufficient: "Ms. D has clinically significant fatigue related to her pregnancy. She can continue to work with >50% of her time at work spent seated and 15-minute breaks every 4 hours." |
آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟
