The employer must also consider the nature of the work and the employee’s physical and mental abilities when providing the workstation and work equipment. A public building must be accessible to all persons equally.

In cases where the working environment and tools meet the requirements, but were creating a favourable working environment for you leads to significant additional costs for the employer, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund shall consider reimbursing the cost of workstation adaptation, based on the reasonableness of the cost. The employer can be reimbursed 50%-100% of the cost if you have a disability, a permanent incapacity for work or partial or no work ability, you are commencing employment or are already employed, and your employment is of indefinite duration or for a duration of two years or more.

A home-based workstation can also be adapted if the workstation is agreed upon with the employer.

The employer must submit to the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund an application for reimbursing the cost of adapting the workstation and tools. The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund shall assist in identifying a suitable solution and agree on the reimbursable costs with the employer. The employer shall adapt your workstation and the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund shall reimburse the employer for the costs.

Due to the special needs of a person with health-related obstacles, it may be necessary, for example, to

• build a ramp or install a stairlift at the entrance to the building,
• automate the opening mechanisms of entrances,
• widen door openings and level thresholds,
• change the height of worktops,
• lower the position of light switches.

Here are some examples with pictures of work-related technical aids and workstation adaptations.

To find out how to eliminate work-related obstacles related to the employee’s health, we ask that you contact the local office of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund and arrange a meeting with a case manager. Contacts can be found here: offices of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.