What does the term "undue hardship" refer to in the context of reasonable accommodation?

The term "undue hardship" in the context of reasonable accommodation refers to the significant difficulty or expense that an employer would face in implementing requested adjustments for an employee with a disability. The concept is a critical aspect of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates that employers provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business.

For an accommodation to be considered reasonable, it must not impose excessive demands on the employer. Factors that are taken into account when determining whether a hardship is undue include the nature and cost of the accommodation, the overall financial resources of the facility in question, the number of employees at that location, the effect on expenses and resources, and the impact on the operation of the business.

Understanding this term helps delineate the balance between an employer's legal obligation to accommodate employees with disabilities and the limitations that may create significant challenges for the business in the process.