Schedule 8: Work: reasonable adjustments
Effect
782.This Schedule explains how the duty to make reasonable adjustments in section 20 applies to an employer or other persons under Part 5 of the Act. It sets out the three requirements of the duty which apply where an “interested” disabled employee or job applicant is placed at a substantial disadvantage compared with non-disabled employees or applicants. As the duty is owed to an “interested” disabled employee or job applicant, it is not an anticipatory duty which means that an employer is not required to anticipate the needs of potential disabled employees or job applicants and make reasonable adjustments in advance of their having an actual disabled employee or job applicant.
783.The tables set out who is an interested disabled person in relation to different categories of “relevant matters” and the circumstances in which the duty applies in each case. These tables capture how the duty applies in a number of areas related to work, for example to qualifications bodies and to trade organisations and there is a regulation-making power to enable further detail to be set out about how the duty applies to local authorities in respect of disabled members.
784.The Schedule also sets out the circumstances in which lack of knowledge of the person’s disability or that a disabled person may be an applicant for a job means that the duty does not apply.
Background
785.This Schedule replaces similar provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Schedule provides greater clarity than in the previous legislation that a duty to make reasonable adjustments includes a requirement to provide an auxiliary aid if this would overcome the substantial disadvantage to the disabled person.
Examples
An employer provides specially adapted furniture for a new employee with restricted movement in his upper limbs. This is likely to be a reasonable adjustment for the employer to make.
A large employer is recruiting for posts which routinely attract a high number of applications. He arranges for large-print application forms to be available for any visually impaired people applying for a job. This is likely to be a reasonable adjustment for the employer to make.