Human Resource Blog

Rehabilitation Act in Maryland

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Which employees and employers are covered by the Rehabilitation Act in Maryland?

Many employers and employees in the state of Maryland are covered by the Rehabilitation Act. The Act is a federal Act that ensures that employees that have a record of a particular disability cannot be discriminated against by the employer for reasons that are based on the disability.

Many employers and employees are covered, but not all employers and employees are covered. In order for employers to be covered, they need to meet at least one of the following requirements:

·         Be a federal government agency, contractor or office working in any branch of the federal government

·         Be a local or state government agency, office, or contractor working on any branch of the government and also receiving federal funds

·         Be an educational institution receiving federal funds

·         Be a public or private employer receiving federal funds

Employers must not discriminate against employees that are covered by the Act for reasons that are directly related to the disabilities that the employees might have. Employees are covered for a variety of disabilities, including mental and physical disabilities.

An example of a mental disability might be depression or an addiction. A physical disability could be a missing limb or a visual impairment.

Also, covered employers should make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. For example, if the employee is in a wheelchair, the employer should provide the employee with a modified work station so that she or he can reach his or her desk in order to work.

Some employers will have to take special care to hire workers with disabilities. For example, employers that have federal contracts worth at least $10,000 will have to have an affirmative action plan in place to hire workers with disabilities. Federal contractors with contracts worth at least $50,000 and at least 50 employees will have to have a written affirmative action plan in place to hire workers with disabilities. CB