Advocacy

Understanding Your Employment Rights

The following information will help you understand your rights as a worker with diabetes and what you can do to make sure that you receive fair treatment.

Your Job & Your Rights
PDF brochure of information on the legal rights of workers with diabetes.
(Also available in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese)

Getting a Job
Do I have to tell my employer about my diabetes? Are there any jobs that are off-limits to people with diabetes? Find information about getting a job with diabetes, and other pre-employment issues here.

Your Rights on the Job
What laws protect me from discrimination? What is a qualified individual with a disability? Find information about your rights on the job here.

Reasonable Accommodations
What are reasonable accommodations? What accommodations do people with diabetes need? Find information about your right to workplace accommodations here.

Medical Leave
Am I entitled to medical leave to take care of my diabetes? What protections does the Family Medical Leave Act provide me?

Employment Examinations
Is my employer allowed to ask me questions about my diabetes or force me to take a physical examination? Do I need a certain A1C level to do my job? Find information about your rights with regard to employment examinations here.

Safety Issues
What does "direct threat" mean? Can I be fired for having hypoglycemia on the job? Find information about common safety issues on the job here.

Termination
Find information about what to do if you've been terminated from your job because of diabetes here.

Addressing Workplace Discrimination
What to do if you've been the victim of diabetes discrimination in the workplace. Learn about the ADA's four step approach to ending discrimination: Educate, Negotiate, Litigate, Legislate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Fact Sheet on Diabetes in the Workplace
The EEOC is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the nation's laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Learn more about your rights as a worker with diabetes.