The duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled workers

A key concept of the EA 10 is the duty, under section 20 of the Act, to make reasonable adjustments. This is a positive duty owed by the employer to take steps to accommodate the disability of a disabled worker so as to reduce or eliminate the disadvantage that worker would otherwise suffer. It means that the employer is obliged to do more to reduce disadvantage for a disabled person than it would for someone who is not disabled. It is a duty owed to the individual worker. This means that what adjustments are appropriate will depend on the needs of the particular individual.

Common adjustments include:

• adjustments to interview arrangements for disabled job applicants;

• re-allocating duties;

• altering hours or permitting work from home;

• transferring a newly disabled person (or a person whose disability has worsened) into a more suitable existing vacancy;

• providing extra training;

• allowing time off for medical treatment;

• relaxing workplace rules, for example allowing extra breaks or time away from the computer; and

• modifying selection procedures, for example allowing more time to complete tests.