hearing loss

HRH

We have an ee who has a company-issued cell phone. He has hearing loss and has investigated on his own which cell phones have the best consistent volume control. The Motorola Razor phone came out #1. However, our people did their own research and found out that the volume is controlled by the technology that powers the phone, not the phone itself. Our carrier, T-Mobile, does not have the best technology (Verizon does). We would rather not change our carrier and there is no point in buying the Razor Phone without doing so. What is our responsibility with regard to addressing his hearing disability? Many thanks!

LarryC

Your responsibility is to reasonably accomodate. Weighing the cost of the accomodation and its impact eventual impact on the othjer employees and the organization as a whole will tell you if it is reasonable.

Geno

Have you considered asking the employee what steps he has taken on his own to alleviate his hearing difficulties? I’m thinking along the lines of his possibly benefiting from a hearing aid (which you are under no obligation to supply) and not one of the most expensive (and fragile) cell phones on the market.

My teenage son wanted a Razor too and I had but two words for him -- Nice try.

Geno

HRH

He has just purchased a hearing aid - and that might be part of the problem - adjusing to it.

jrzgrl

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-29-06 AT 01:59PM (CST)[/font][br][br]Is it an option for your company to sign up with Verizon for just the one phone? We currently have T-Mobile, but they don't have any towers in the area of one of our directors' home, so we ordered one phone for her through Verizon.