Chapter 3 – Personnel, Training, and Employee Relations

31040.4.3.5 Essential Functions

• Essential Functions are the fundamental job duties of the employment position the individual with a disability holds or desires. Essential functions do not include the marginal functions of the position.

• A job function may be essential because:

  • The position exists to perform the function;

  • A limited number of employees are available to perform the function; and/or

  • The function is highly specialized and the person in the position is hired for his or her expertise.

• Essential functions are defined in the written duty statement or List of Essential Functions. Some factors to consider when identifying essential functions are:

  • The amount of time spent performing the function;

  • The consequences of not requiring a person in this job to perform the function;

  • The terms of a collective bargaining agreement;

  • Work experience of employees who have performed the job in the past; or

  • Work experience of employees who currently perform similar jobs.