Opinion ID: 1805303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Reasonable Accommodation Law.

Text: Iowa Code section 601A.6 makes it an unfair or discriminatory employment practice: to refuse to hire, accept, register, classify, or refer for employment, to discharge any employee, or to otherwise discriminate in employment against any applicant for employment or any employee because of the... disability of such applicant or employee, unless based upon the nature of the occupation. If a disabled person is qualified to perform a particular occupation, by reason of training or experience, the nature of that occupation shall not be the basis for exception to the unfair or discriminating practices prohibited by this subsection. Iowa Code § 601A.6(1)(a). In Foods, Inc., this court held that section 601A.6 requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Foods, Inc., 318 N.W.2d at 167. Reasonable accommodation by the employer may take many forms. Cerro Gordo County Care Facility, 401 N.W.2d at 197. However, under Iowa law reasonable accommodation is only required to an extent that a refusal to provide some accommodation would be discrimination itself. Id. Employers are only bound to act reasonably. Id. Reasonableness is a flexible standard and must be measured not only by the disabled employee's needs and desires, but also by the economic and other realities faced by the employer. Id.