Asking your employer for changes to help you if you’re disabled

Summary

You should think of some adjustments your employer could have made. They might be things you asked for at the time or that you’ve thought of since. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t mention them to your employer at the time. If you can’t think of anything your employer could have done, you're unlikely to win a case. Your employer has to show they took reasonable steps to think of possible adjustments, so you can still win a case if you can't think of adjustments. The tribunal will ask you if you can think of any adjustments and your case will be stronger if you can. Paul was employed as a plumber. His employer dismissed him because he’d been off sick for a year because of pain in his knees. At the time he didn’t object but now thinks he wants to take action. He’s had advice and is still in time to make a tribunal claim. He’ll need to think of things his employer could have done rather than dismiss him, like giving him light duties. An employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments is in section 20 of the Equality Act 2010. Section 21 says that if an employer fails to make a reasonable adjustment it’s discrimination. There’s more information about reasonable adjustments in the.

Key information

• which policy or procedure is causing you disadvantage at work
• how that disadvantage is linked to your disability
• what changes you think your employer should make to the policy or procedure
• how that change will stop you being at a disadvantage
• what adjustments your employer has already made
• if they haven’t worked, what other adjustments it would be reasonable for them to make
• what adjustments you’ve suggested to your employer
• if your employer made some adjustments but then stopped
• which physical feature is causing you disadvantage at work
• what change you think your employer should make to the physical feature
• what kind of support and assistance you need
• how you’re at a disadvantage because your employer isn’t providing that support or assistance

Practical guidance

• Source: Asking your employer for changes to help you if you’re disabled

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