What are some examples of undue hardship in different contexts?

What are some examples of undue hardship in different contexts?

Undue hardship refers to significant difficulty or expense that would be caused by accommodating a request. Examples include:

1. Employment: An employer may face undue hardship if accommodating an employee's disability requires excessive costs or fundamentally alters the business.
2. Housing: A landlord might experience undue hardship if making a property accessible for a tenant with disabilities requires extensive renovations.
3. Education: A school may claim undue hardship if providing a specific accommodation for a student with disabilities disrupts the learning environment for others.

Can you give me a specific case in employment?

Sure! A specific case in employment could involve a company that needs to hire a new employee but has limited resources. If a candidate requests a specialized workstation due to a disability, the company might argue that the cost of the equipment and the need to train staff on its use would create undue hardship, especially if it significantly impacts their budget.

What about in housing situations?

In housing, consider a scenario where a tenant requests that a landlord install a wheelchair ramp. If the property is a historic building, the landlord might argue that the modifications required to comply with preservation laws would impose undue hardship, as it could involve extensive and costly renovations that alter the building's structure.

Are there legal precedents for these examples?

Yes, there are legal precedents. For instance, in the case of U.S. Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, the Supreme Court ruled that an employer must provide reasonable accommodations unless it can prove that doing so would cause undue hardship. Similarly, housing cases often reference the Fair Housing Act, which outlines the obligations of landlords to accommodate tenants unless it results in undue hardship.