Work at Home Gets Skeptical Eye From Courts as Disability Issue

A nearly fatal bout with flesh-eating bacteria knocked Gary Brunckhorst out of his job with the city of Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, for almost a year and left him him with painful leg and foot injuries that limit his mobility.

When he was cleared to return to work, Brunckhorst asked the city to let him ease his way back. He requested a part-time schedule during his first four months back and wanted to work from home during that entire time. But Oak Park Heights said no. After Brunckhorst balked, the city eventually fired him.

A federal appeals court in St. ...