This page introduces employment rights under the Equality Act. You have these rights if your stammer is a ‘disability’ as defined, or in some cases if you are perceived to have a disability.
Note: At work (stamma.org) on the British Stammering Association website has guidance beyond your legal rights. Also more Employment links.
Practically anything to do with employment is within the Equality Act, including recruitment, promotion, transfers, dismissals, redundancy, training or other benefits.
The Equality Act covers treating someone less favourably related to their disability. There is also an important duty to make reasonable adjustments.
Recruitment and promotion
- There is a right to reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process. This may include for example extra time, greater attention paid to written material, and adjustments as regards any telephone interviews, assessments and presentations.
- Turning down a job applicant for a discriminatory reason can also be unlawful. In particular:
- Stereotyping may be unlawful as direct discrimination, for example assuming that a particular type of job could not be done by someone who stammers, rather than looking at the individual’s abilities.
- Turning someone down because of communication abilities related to the stammer is likely to be unlawful unless the employer shows that turning the person down was a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. If a claim is brought (under s.15 Equality Act), a tribunal would conduct a balancing exercise, considering such things as the employer’s aim, the detriment to the claimant, and are there other ways the aim could have been achieved without turning the person down.
- If there would be difficulties working in the job, it is important whether they can be addressed by reasonable adjustments.
- See Employment: Recruitment and promotion.
When in a job
- There is still sometimes workplace bullying or harassment of people who stammer. This is unlawful under the Equality Act.
- The right to reasonable adjustments can be important to help deal with any difficulties related to the stammer.
- See Employment: In the job.
What about losing one’s job?
- If the reason is something connected with the stammer, again it will often be unlawful unless the employer shows that dismissal was a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. If a claim is brought (under s.15 Equality Act), a tribunal would conduct a balancing exercise, considering such things as the employer’s aim, the detriment to the claimant, and are there other ways the aim could have been achieved without dismissing them.
- As well as the Equality Act, other types of claim – particularly unfair dismissal – can be important here.
- Employers will find dismissal harder to justify if they do not follow appropriate procedures under ACAS guidance.
- See Losing one’s job.
Some individual points:
For more see the Employment FAQs.
- Subject to exceptions, employers are not allowed to make enquiries about health or disability before making a job offer.
- The Disability Confident scheme can help in getting a guaranteed interview.
- Service in the armed forces is excluded from protection against disability discrimination (before discharge).
- If cases are not resolved internally, they can be taken to an employment tribunal after notifying ACAS. Conciliation through ACAS may also be possible. (Resolving disputes)
- Agency workers, some self-employed people, and certain other categories who are not actually ’employed’ are protected by the Equality Act. (Employees and beyond)
- There is a statutory Equality Act Code of Practice on employment. It is not binding but needs to be taken into account by courts.
- One may stammer and still have excellent communication skills. Also see these Examples of jobs done by people who stammer.
- See Sources of help and advice,
More resources
See these Employment links. The following are particularly recommended on the British Stammering Association (Stamma) website, including as a general guide on stammering and employment rather than focused on the law:
- At work (stamma.org) for people who stammer;
- Job candidates who stammer (stamma.org) and Supporting staff who stammer (stamma.org) for employers; and
- The law & discrimination (stamma.org), including a section on Bullying at work (stamma.org).
