Up to 50% of employees have allergies and/or asthma, according to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). For many employees, allergies and asthma aren’t just seasonal; they’re chronic health conditions that affect their health and productivity in the office. Here’s how to keep your workplace ADA compliant and supportive:

Ask Employees What They Need

Employees with asthma or allergies often know their triggers and what helps. Invite employees to share how you can make the work environment more comfortable for them at onboarding and beyond. Make sure to inform HR about any health-related concerns as soon as you know, not after a flare-up. Keep in mind that any disclosures about health conditions are covered by HIPAA and need to be handled sensitively and with confidentiality.

Create an Emergency Action Plan

Work with your employees to develop individualized action plans, especially if there is a risk of anaphylaxis or severe asthma attacks. Doctors often provide these plans. If employees are comfortable with it, you can keep a copy in their medical folder.

Plans should include:

Signs of a medical emergency.
What can induce anaphylaxis or asthma attacks for that employee
Where the medication is kept

Instructions around medications. i.e., does the individual have a protocol of Benadryl, then epinephrine after a certain amount of time without improvement?

Who to notify
When to call 911

If administering an EpiPen or any type of Epinephrine, 911 must be called.

Standardize Cleaning & Scent Policies

Common triggers like dust, mold, and strong scents can be managed with simple, intentional policies.

Some easy-to-implement rules include:

Use fragrance-free cleaning supplies
Schedule deep cleaning during off-hours or when employees are working remotely to reduce their exposure to dust, fumes, or cleaning chemicals that could trigger symptoms.

Build Shared Awareness

Leadership and those affected are not the only ones who should understand how asthma and allergies show up at work. Short, clear training on common triggers, how asthma and allergies can affect people differently, and what coworkers should and shouldn’t do in a health emergency.

Reinforce That Health is Not an Inconvenience

Sometimes employees hesitate to speak up because they don’t want to be “difficult”. Leadership can shift this by normalizing these conversations and following through with real support. The message is simple: Your health matters. We’re here to help you work safely and successfully.

How HRT Can Help

HR Transformed is here to help your organization build an accommodating environment and health-related policies. If you have questions about transforming your office or need support with your health-related action plans, do not hesitate to reach out!

Allergies. Asthma. Liability. What You Can’t Afford to Miss.