Cases on employment

The European Union court modified its definition of ‘disability’ in the Framework Employment Directive, to take greater account of the social model of disability. This model recognises the barriers caused by the envionrment and people’s attitudes to disability. The court also said the aim of the reasonable adjustment duty was to remove barriers that hinder … Read moreRing v Dansk almennyttigt Boligselskab

Facts A teacher was dismissed for inappropriate behaviour with a former pupil. The tribunal upheld the teacher’s claim that this was discrimination arising from disability within s.15 EqA. The teacher’s behaviour had been materially affected by hypomania. The dismissal was not objectively justified because there had been no attempt to assess the risk of repetition … Read moreJamieson v Chorlton High School

The claimant’s asthma appeared particularly at work where he was subjected to chemical fumes. The employment tribunal did not see that work situation as a ‘normal day-to-day activity’, so did not take it into account and held he did not have a ‘disability’. The EAT disagreed, saying the symptoms at work should be taken into … Read moreCruickshank v VAW Motorcast

This case held that a senior police officer had a ‘disability’ within the DDA because of the effect his dyslexia had in a high pressure exam for promotion. The exam was a ‘normal day-to-day activity’. The court would have said that anyway under domestic law, but was also bound by the European case of Chacón … Read morePaterson v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis

This decision is likely to be helpful to claimants seeking to show they have a ‘disability’. The appeal tribunal stresses that one should look at what the claimant cannot do, rather that what they can. It also criticises a ‘sliding scale’ approach, which might set the bar for claimants too high, and says the statutory … Read moreAderemi v London and South Eastern Railway

A claim for reasonable adjustments to an assessment for the Civil Service Fast Stream failed. The claimant had Asperger’s Syndrome. The further adjustments she sought would have meant important competencies concerning relationships and communication were not assessed. Employment Tribunal, [2011] EqLR 803. ET/2203187/10. Tribunal decision (pdf). A woman with Asperger’s Syndrome applied for the Civil … Read moreLowe v Cabinet Office

The Supreme Court held that an unpaid volunteer was not protected by the EU Framework Employment Directive as having an ’employment’ or ‘occupation’. Since she did not otherwise fall within the employment provisions of the DDA, her disability discrimination claim failed. Supreme Court, 2012. Full decision: bailii.org. The claimant was a specialist adviser for welfare … Read moreX v Mid Sussex Citizens Advice Bureau

A person with aphasia was found fit to practise as a barrister. The Review Panel spoke of there being a non-statutory obligation on judges to make reasonable adjustments for disability. [2010] EqLR 473, Bar Standards Review Panel. More on the case: equalitytalk.org.uk. The Bar Standards Board Review Panel found that a barrister who had aphasia … Read moreIn the matter of Horan

The Court of Appeal upheld a decision that sufficient reasonable adjustments had been made for a student with multiple sclerosis taking a professional law exam. The issue of whether the time limit for the exam was a competence standard and therefore not subject to the reasonable adjustment duty did not have to be decided. Court … Read moreBurke v College of Law and SRA