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).