Raneil Sanchez was recently hired at New You Med Spa, a small plastic surgery clinic, as the overnight receptionist. Sanchez was injured in an accident as a teenager and as a result, uses a wheelchair full time. She previously worked as the receptionist at an apartment community and took on the role at New You because of higher pay and a shorter commute. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanchez was interviewed virtually. She did not disclose her wheelchair use, and her new employer did not ask about any mobility limitations. When Sanchez reported to work on her first day, she was surprised to learn the clinic was located inside of a historical mansion in a wealthy part of town. The three-story mansion featured an impressive double staircase leading to the front doors but did not have any entrance ramps or elevators.

Sanchez called the inside office and was instructed to go around to the back of the house, which was at street level, and use the driveway to enter the house through the garage. Because the receptionist desk is on the first floor of the house, by using the driveway and garage Sanchez was able to access her workspace and perform her job duties even though she was not able to enter through the front of the house like the other employees. Since her overnight hours were from 8 p.m, to 8 a.m., Sanchez made a habit of parking in the driveway as close as possible to the garage door (for safety concerns because it was dark when she arrived at work and also because parking in the employee parking lot would require her to use her wheelchair to cross the facility's lawn, which would dirty the wheels of her wheelchair and perhaps hinder its maneuverability). After a few months without problems, Sanchez was let go from her position without explanation.

Through conversations with her former coworkers, Sanchez found out that she was fired because the company that delivers food and sanitation products for New You had threatened to cancel their contract with the facility if Sanchez kept blocking the driveway with her van. The delivery company made deliveries every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 5 a.m, and 7 a.m. and required the entire length of the driveway for deliveries.

Questions

1. Should Sanchez have disclosed her wheelchair use during the interview process? Would doing so have made a difference in her experience? Explain. (8 marks)