Which types of worker are covered

[ch 1: page 5]

Unlike most other employment rights, which apply to “workers” or “employees”, the duty to make adjustments covers individuals employed under any type of contract, including:

• contract workers, agency workers, sub-contract workers, temps, casual workers, zero hours contract workers, apprentices;

• people on vocational training, work placements or work experience;

• self-employed freelancers who are contractually obliged to do the work themselves;

• police officers;

• business partners;

• barristers;

• office holders; and

• members of a limited liability partnership.

It also includes people applying for a job or other position.

The duty does not extend to carers of someone who is disabled, only to the disabled person themselves. For example, an employer does not have a duty to make adjustments to a worker’s hours to enable them to provide care or support to a disabled child. This is something that would need to be pursued as a flexible working request (see LRD’s handbook Law at Work).