A request for PAS requires a case-by-case evaluation to determine whether there is a medically valid need for the services and whether or not that need can be fulfilled without causing an undue hardship on the Postal Service. As such, managers and supervisors must immediately refer any request to their local RAC, which will ensure appropriate assessment of these requests. The RAC assists managers and supervisors in the following:
- Determining the eligibility of an employee for PAS.
- Assessing the reasonableness of the requested services, including whether implementing the services would impose an undue hardship on the Postal Service.
- Working with Purchasing and Supply Management to fulfill approved PAS requests.
Note: Managers and supervisors must not determine whether to approve or deny a request for PAS; their local RAC evaluates the request and determines its outcome.
The local RAC conducts an interactive meeting with the requesting employee within a reasonable time. After that meeting has occurred, the RAC then has a reasonable period of time to decide whether to grant or deny PAS.
In determining whether an employee requires PAS, RACs follow the same procedures they use in assessing reasonable accommodation requests. In addition, the Postal Service’s right to deny PAS requests when the provision of services would pose an undue hardship is the same as exists for the denial of reasonable accommodations.
Information about these standards and the role and responsibilities of the RAC, as well as making a referral to the RAC, can be found in Handbook EL-307, Reasonable Accommodation, An Interactive Process. Employees may also contact their local Human Resources office or the National Disability Programs office to obtain the local RAC chairperson point of contact.
