Disability Association Claim

Under California’s FEHA, employers can’t discharge or discriminate against an employee because of their own disability or association with a person who has, or is perceived to have, a disability.¹ The same association protection exists under the ADA.

Employees’ relationships with qualifying individuals are protected under the association provision. You can’t terminate employees because of this relationship.² “Association,” according to the EEOC, doesn’t require a family relationship for an individual to be protected. The key is whether the employer is motivated by the individual’s relationship or association with a person who has a disability.