Accommodation means adjusting a rule, practice, condition or requirement to address needs connected to a protected characteristic. The process is individualized and extends beyond employment into services such as healthcare, retail and education.
Sources checked September 29, 2026.
When accommodation arises
Accommodation issues commonly involve disability or religion, but the duty is tied to protected characteristics rather than a single category. The person seeking accommodation should communicate the relevant need, while the organization must meaningfully consider reasonable options.
The accommodation process
The Commission describes accommodation as a shared process. Relevant information may need to be exchanged, alternatives considered and workable solutions tested. The focus is generally on functional needs rather than unnecessary disclosure.
Employment and services
Employers have accommodation responsibilities, and the Commission also states that the duty extends to access to services including retail, healthcare and education.
The limit of the duty
Accommodation is required to the point of undue hardship. Cost, health and safety, workforce or facility interchangeability, collective-agreement disruption and service disruption can be relevant, depending on the evidence and context.
Official sources
- Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission — duty to accommodate
- Nova Scotia Legislature — Human Rights Act
- Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission — information for employers