Is Alcoholism Covered Under The Ada?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a broad law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of life. So, it stands to reason that alcoholism would be covered under the ADA, right?
Wrong. The ADA does not protect alcoholics from discrimination. In fact, the ADA specifically includes alcoholism as an example of a disability that is not covered.
This may seem unfair, but it’s important to understand the reasoning behind this exclusion. The ADA is designed to protect people who have disabilities that limit their ability to participate in major life activities. So, for example, someone who is blind or uses a wheelchair would be protected under the ADA because their disability limits their ability to see or walk.
However, someone with alcoholism is not automatically protected under the ADA because alcoholism itself does not limit a person’s ability to participate in major life activities. Instead, it’s the behavior associated with alcoholism that can limit a person’s ability to participate in major life activities.
For example, if an alcoholic employee is constantly showing up late or calling in sick, then that behavior could be considered a disability under the ADA. But if the alcoholic employee is able to show up to work on time and perform their job duties without issue, then they are not protected under the ADA.
It’s also important to note that the ADA only protects employees from discrimination, not from termination due to job performance. So, even if an alcoholic employee is protected under the ADA, they can still be fired for poor job performance that is unrelated to their alcoholism.
In conclusion, alcoholism is not automatically covered under the ADA. However, the behavior associated with alcoholism may be covered if it limits a person’s ability to participate in major life activities.