US Airways, Inc. v. Barnett, 535 U.S. 391 (2002)
US Airways, Inc. v.
Does the Americans with Disabilities Act require an employer to make exceptions to established seniority systems to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees?
The ADA mandates employers to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees unless doing so would result in undue hardship. However, a seniority system generally prevails over requests for accommodation unless the employee can establish special circumstances that would make an exception reasonable in a particular case.
The Supreme Court held that requests for exceptions to an employer’s seniority system are typically unreasonable. However, an employee could challenge this presumption by presenting evidence of special circumstances that would make the accommodation reasonable.
The decision provides clarity on how the ADA is applied in contexts involving seniority systems, highlighting the importance of predictable policy applications while preserving opportunities for individual assessment. This case serves as a benchmark for evaluating requests for accommodations and reflects the complex interplay between workplace equality and business efficiency. The ruling guides legal practitioners and employers in understanding the ADA's expectations and limitations in providing accommodations.