Title
Review, approve, and adopt the revisions to the County of Monterey Reasonable Accommodation Policy.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Review, approve, and adopt the revisions to the County of Monterey Reasonable Accommodation Policy.
SUMMARY:
From September 2025 to March 2026, the Civil Rights Office engaged multiple stakeholders in revising the Reasonable Accommodation Policy and, through participatory action research with employees and the Human Resources Department, collaboratively developed a revised version. The Civil Rights Office sought input from employees through surveys and focus groups, as well as from the Human Resources Department, the County Counsel’s Office, and the Commission on Disabilities, to propose revisions to the Reasonable Accommodation Policy.
DISCUSSION:
The Reasonable Accommodation Policy assists applicants, employees, and individuals seeking to participate in County programs and activities, as well as supervisors and managers, in requesting and processing accommodations. This Policy allows the County to comply with Federal and State civil rights laws, including California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
In keeping with internal policy, the Reasonable Accommodation Policy is due for review in 2026. The revision of the Policy incorporates input from employees, the Human Resources Department, best practices, and legal updates. More specifically, the revisions cover the following:
- Clarify the definition of good faith, outlining employer and employee responsibilities
- Explain in greater detail the parties’ responsibilities during the interactive process
- Outline responsibilities of the departmental reasonable accommodation coordinators
- Provide guidelines for tracking and reporting reasonable accommodations
The proposed revisions also contain minor chang...
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