Levelling the playing field: Disability in the workplace and reasonable adjustments

There are over 14 million disabled people in the UK, with 19% of working age adults identifying themselves as having a disability. Thursday 3rd December 2020 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities – marking the end of a year where public conversation has focused on health issues including the pandemic's effect on people with disabilities. During this time, employers have had to implement significant changes to protect their workforces and adapt their businesses. As part of those changes, particular care has been required to protect disabled employees, which includes a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments. A failure to do so can lead to employers facing discrimination claims with uncapped compensation.

In this alert we look at some practical tips for employers to consider when making reasonable adjustments.