Reasonable accommodation at work
I am seeking some advice about a situation I am in at work regarding a reasonable accommodation. I work as a bartender at a private members only club. I’ve been working there for the past 19 months and I’ve had the same hairstyle bangs (fringe), and within the last 2 weeks they are trying to enforce a dress code policy that requires everyone to have their hair pulled back completely off the face. Well, I happen to have a rare autoimmune disease that affects the eyes and makes my eyes very sensitive to light, irritants etc, and I asked for a reasonable accommodation to the dress code policy to allow my bangs as they act as a barrier against harsh lighting protect from environmental elements. I got a doctors note from my eye specialist fully supporting me and my medical condition. My HR offered no options, but transferring me to a different position in a completely different department with less pay and I will probably lose my health insurance in the process. She is saying that my bangs are such a food and safety issue that they cannot accommodate me in my current position. Should I accept the demotion and seek legal counsel or is this something they can fight? I have literally had no issues for over a year of working there and am amazing at my job, she just doesn’t care for me that much so I think she is making this difficult for me on purpose.