02 Dec Degenerative or Progressive Conditions: FEHA’s Protection of Employees from Future Discrimination
The FEHA prohibits discrimination of physical or mental disabilities that actually exist, or that they believe to exist, even though it doesn’t actually exist. It is also unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee who doesn’t currently have a disability but may have a disabling condition sometime in the future. For instance, if an employee has HIV, but not AIDS, they may not presently have any limits on their major life activities. But, if the employer knows that at some point in the future they could become disabled by AIDS, then they might discriminate against that employee. The FEHA clearly prohibits that. Similarly, if someone has some kind of congenital heart disorder, it may not presently constitute a disability because it doesn’t cause limits on their major life activities. But, if the employer believes that in the future it may, they may also discriminate against that employee, and they are prohibited from doing so. There are other examples, but the main point is that if you have an issue or condition that is not presently disabiling, but may become disabling sometime in the future, the fact that it may become disabling prevents an employer from discriminating against you. If you have been discriminated on the basis of your disability by your employer, or future potential disability, contact an employment lawyer today at the Khadder Law Firm for a free initial consultation....