{"id":273,"date":"2025-08-14T17:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T21:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/?page_id=273"},"modified":"2026-04-27T09:36:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:36:02","slug":"faqs-for-supervisors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/accommodations\/resources\/faqs-for-supervisors\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs for Supervisors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What is a reasonable accommodation?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A reasonable accommodation is any modification or adjustment to the work environment or to the way job duties are performed that enables an individual with a disability to carry out the essential functions of their position and enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">How can I recognize a request for accommodation?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Employees may request accommodation in different ways with different language. If an employee requests an adjustment to their schedule or workspace, they may be requesting an accommodation. An employee may say they need time off for surgery or treatment for their own medical condition.<\/li>\n<li>Once you receive information suggesting an accommodation may be needed, please refer the employee using the<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cm.maxient.com\/reportingform.php?BostonUniv&amp;layout_id=5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Accommodation Referral Form<\/a>. If you are unsure, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at accomm@bu.edu.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">The employee requested an accommodation and I already approved it. Why is EOO involved?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Boston University does not recognize modifications or informal agreements as reasonable accommodations. If an employee is unable to perform essential functions of their position due to a disability or medical condition, the process housed within EOO is required. Please refer the employee to EOO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Can I request a doctor\u2019s note or medical information from my employee?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>No. It is the responsibility of EOO to obtain and review any medical information supporting their request for accommodation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What do I do if an employee contacts me about an accommodation request?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The employee must be referred to EOO to begin the interactive dialogue. Please complete the<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cm.maxient.com\/reportingform.php?BostonUniv&amp;layout_id=5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Accommodation Referral Form<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">When can an accommodation be requested?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is no set time period. An employee or applicant for employment can request an accommodation at any time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What happens after a request is made?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When an employee makes a request to our office for reasonable accommodation due to a disability, our office is charged with facilitating the interactive dialogue between the employee and their supervisor.<\/li>\n<li>The interactive dialogue is designed to explore accommodations that will allow an employee to complete the essential functions of their position.<\/li>\n<li>Our office does not have the authority or knowledge to determine how an accommodation would impact a college or department, or to make decisions about appropriate accommodations independent of the employee\u2019s college or department.<\/li>\n<li>After our office reviews the employee\u2019s request, we work with the employee and the employee\u2019s school\/college (or administrative unit) to determine whether or not potential accommodations are reasonable and ask for the school\/college\u2019s (or administrative unit\u2019s) approval.<\/li>\n<li>Our office shares the decision of the school\/college (or administrative unit) to approve or not approve a proposed accommodation and the interactive dialogue may continue or conclude depending on the outcome of the conversations with the employee and school\/college (or administrative unit).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">My employee is a caregiver for a family member with a disability. Can they request a reasonable accommodation?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>No. Caregivers of individuals with disabilities are not entitled to receive workplace reasonable accommodations under the ADA. For leave options related to caring for a family member, contact<span>\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"mailto:hr@bu.edu\">HR.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">What if my employee requests a religious accommodation?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Religious accommodations are administered through Human Resources. An employee seeking religious accommodation should contact their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/hr\/home\/contacts\/hrbp-contact\/\">HR Business Partner<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Students seeking religious accommodations should contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/chapel\/students\/religious-holidays-policies\/\">Marsh Chapel and Religious Life<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><span><div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">An employee in my unit is asking questions about a co-worker\u2019s workplace accommodation or modification. How should I respond?<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">It is important not to disclose that an employee is receiving an accommodation because doing so is an inappropriate disclosure of an employee\u2019s confidential disability information. Instead of disclosing this information, supervisors should emphasize the importance of maintaining the privacy of all employees and not discussing the work situation of any employee with co-workers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":8780,"featured_media":0,"parent":63,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8780"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=273"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1019,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/273\/revisions\/1019"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/eoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}