Which types of worker are covered

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).