Is 'able-bodied' language in a job posting risky?
'Able-bodied' and vague fitness demands are a disability-discrimination risk. State the genuine physical tasks the job requires instead, tied to its essential functions.
The ADA protects qualified people with disabilities, and words like 'able-bodied' suggest you are screening on disability rather than ability to do the work. A real physical requirement is fine; a blanket fitness label is not.
Describe the essential function, for example lifting a specific weight or standing for a shift, so a candidate can tell whether they can do it, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Risky phrasing
“Must be able-bodied and physically fit.”
Compliant rewrite
This role requires lifting up to 50 lbs and standing for most of an 8-hour shift. Reasonable accommodations are available.
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