Is a request for a temporary work restriction covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act?

The ADA does not generally cover what would be considered minor, temporary conditions (such as a cold, the flu, a minor broken bone, etc.). However, the duration of an impairment does not alone determine disability. A temporary condition can be an actual disability if the condition is “sufficiently severe.” Thus, employees with temporary impairments can be eligible to receive accommodation in some cases; the key is whether the impairment is sufficiently severe.