What are essential job functions and why do they matter?

Essential job functions are the fundamental duties of a role. Determining these helps employers assess whether a candidate or employee can perform the job with or without accommodation and ensures decisions are based on job requirements rather than assumptions.

Can an employee with a disability be disciplined or terminated?

Yes, but decisions must be based on legitimate performance or conduct reasons, not the disability itself. Employers should evaluate whether a reasonable accommodation could address the issue before taking disciplinary action.

What should managers do if an employee requests an accommodation?

Managers should engage in a good-faith, interactive discussion to understand the employee’s needs and explore reasonable solutions. Partnering with HR ensures compliance with the RPwD Act and helps balance operational needs with legal obligations.

India Disability Protections Training

Name: Disability Protections (RPWD)
Availability: InStock

The Basics of Disability Protections and India Disability Laws

Course Video Preview

Discussion about Reasonable Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities are an important segment of our workforce. However, without proper guidance, leaders and managers may inadvertently make mistakes when managing qualified individuals with disabilities. This Course provides insights into India's Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD), training learners on how to uphold their protections effectively.

Course Description

This course outlines the rights and protections for individuals with a disability in the workplace. The training covers how to determine if someone is a qualified individual based on the essential job functions and how to engage in the interactive process to determine a reasonable accommodation. This course also covers inclusive hiring and disciplining employees who have a disability - with the goal to be more inclusive of individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Key Concepts

What is a disability?
Who is a qualified individual with a disability?
What constitutes an ‘essential job function?’
How to establish an interactive process and meet reasonable accommodation requirements.
What does inclusive hiring entail?
When to take disciplinary action as it pertains to employees with disabilities.

Course Features

Access to our Anonymous Ask the Expert tool
Rich video scenarios based on real-world events
Built-in employee sentiment surveys

50+ Machine Translation Options
Optional program timer
Policy acknowledgement tool
Extensive customization options

View Plans

Lessons

Introduction

Defining Disability and Qualified Individuals

Reasonable Accommodations

Discipline and Disabilities

The Hiring Process

Summary Quiz

Reporting Questions and Our Policy

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From ‘Ask the Expert’

Emtrain’s Ask the Expert feature enables users to ask questions about compliance, bias, harassment, and diversity & inclusion as they come up. It’s all confidential, and answers are sent straight to their inbox. View some of the example questions below and see the Experts answers.

What is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016?

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 is India’s primary disability law. It expands the definition of disability, increases protections against discrimination, and requires employers to provide equal opportunity, reasonable accommodations, and accessible workplaces for individuals with disabilities.

Who is protected under India’s disability law?

The RPwD Act protects individuals with specified disabilities, including physical, mental, intellectual, and sensory impairments. Protection applies to qualified individuals who can perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

What is considered a reasonable accommodation under the RPwD Act?

A reasonable accommodation is a necessary and appropriate modification that enables a person with a disability to perform their job. This may include schedule adjustments, assistive technology, modified duties, accessible facilities, or policy flexibility, unless it causes undue hardship to the employer.

Are employers in India required to make workplaces accessible?

Yes. The RPwD Act requires employers to ensure accessibility and remove barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in the workplace. This includes physical access, communication access, and inclusive employment practices.

Can an employer ask about a disability during the hiring process?

Employers should focus on whether a candidate can perform essential job functions rather than asking direct questions about disability. Questions that screen out individuals with disabilities or discriminate during recruitment may violate the RPwD Act.

Detect & Act

Training Foundation

Pillar

Versions

What's Covered

Disability Protections – India