Reasonable Adjustment Policy
10. Examples of Reasonable Adjustments
The principle of reasonable adjustment applies to all areas of employment. Below are examples of how this principle may be applied to particular aspects of employment.Recruitment
Reasonable adjustments during recruitment may include:
- Making all materials related to the recruitment process (including position descriptions, selection criteria, application forms, questionnaires) available in preferred formats on request. (Note: if necessary, submission deadlines will be extended to applicants requiring alternative formats that delay their receipt or submission of application materials).
- Arranging interpreters, readers, attendants or other assistants during interviews.
Job Redesign/Sharing
Job redesign includes any changes in working conditions (e.g., scheduling, work environment, team culture) that improve the employee's ability to do the job and may include:
- Modifying attendance policies.
- Providing flexible scheduling options.
- Allowing time-off for counselling or other medical appointments (e.g., rehabilitation, assessment or treatment).
- Allowing home-based work (See the FaCSIA Home Based Work Guidelines for further information).
- Allowing longer breaks.
- Exchanging one task in a job for another (For example, exchanging telephone duties with filing duties for a hearing impaired person).
- Modifying performance agreement expectations.
Job sharing involves two or more people sharing responsibilities for the same job, examples include:
- Allocating some of the employee's duties to another person.
- Having two people share a full-time job, for example, by having one person work Monday and Tuesday and the other work Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Co-worker supports
- Training for co-workers as required.
- Recognition of co-worker support impact on performance expectations.
Workplace Modifications
- Improving physical accessibility:
- Installing floor coverings, matting, carpet mats, and removing cords on floors or hanging plants.
- Positioning an individual's workstation in an appropriate area that best meets their needs (e.g., nearer to rest rooms or behind sound reduction barriers).
- Lowering control panels and emergency buttons/phones in lifts.
- Modifying work-site temperatures:
- Providing work areas with temperature control.
- Temporary air conditioners, fans, heaters or proper ventilation and redirecting vents.
- Providing ergonomic devices:
- Specific seating (office chair, prop seats etc.), headsets, footstools backrests or cushions.
- Computer monitor risers and document stands and ergonomic arms, ports or tilt-boards.
- Installing sound reducing devices, particularly for individuals with mental health issues, stress issues and hearing impairments:
- Environmental sound machines - help block out extraneous noises that are often found to be distracting. They can reduce stress in the work environment.
- Sound absorption panels.
- Modifying lighting for eye sensitivity:
- Anti-glare filters for computer screens to relieve eyestrain, fatigue, headaches and stress.
- Place blinds on windows, flicker free lighting, full spectrum lighting, light filters for covering fluorescent lighting, lower wattage overhead lights, task lighting or other alternative lighting.
- Installing indoor air cleaning systems to remove allergens and pollutants.
- Providing time management and organisational devices:
- Day planner, calendar, electronic organisers, and multi-set alarm wristwatch that beeps or vibrates.
- Written instructions and checklists, voice-activated tape recorder for verbal instructions or instructional diagrams for office equipment.
- Changes to make work safer for all employees:
- Safer manual handling practices.
- Substitutes for manual handling.
- General training for co-workers or supervisors.
- Specific training and support for an employee with disability.
- Providing of additional equipment or facilities:
- Providing TTY telephones.
- Providing large screen computer monitors and/or keyboards.
- Using tape recorders instead of memo pads to take and leave messages for the sight impaired.
- Provision of raised wooden platforms to photocopiers/fax/printers etc for people of small stature
- Provision of interpreters, readers, attendants or other work related assistance.
- Modifications to work related communications or information provision, including the form or format in which information is available.
- Permitting or facilitating a person to use equipment or assistance provided by the person with disability or by another person or organization.
- Arranging temporary light duties: Duties can be temporarily altered to suit individuals who have a temporary mobility problem such as a broken leg or arm. Temporary changes can be made to duties whilst awaiting delivery of equipment, such as a TTY machine for the hearing impaired.
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