Employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled staff

The Disability Rights Commission has welcomed a law Lords ruling
that employers should have a duty to make reasonable adjustments
for disabled people if they are unable to carry out their job due
to their disability, writes Clare
Jerrom.

The DRC took the case of Susan Archibald to the House of Lords
after she was unable to carry out her job as a road sweeper with
Fife Council following surgery which left her unable to walk.

She had previously worked as an administration assistant and
re-trained but applied unsuccessfully for more than 100 posts and
was dismissed by the council on the grounds of capability.

Law Lords ruled unanimously that there should be a duty on
employers to make adjustments and this should include considering
whether it is reasonable to transfer the person to another vacant
post, even if it is a higher grade.

Chair of the DRC Bert Massie said: “We are delighted that
good sense has prevailed and the Lords agree that the law is there
to make sure disabled people are given equality of
opportunity.”