The first requirement involves changing the way things are done (equality law talks about where the disabled job worker is put at a substantial disadvantage by a provision, criterion or practice of their employer).
This means the employer must look at whether they need to change some written or unwritten policies, and/or some of the ways they usually do things, to remove or reduce barriers that would place you at a substantial disadvantage, for example, by stopping you working for that employer or applying for a job with that employer or stopping you being fully involved at work.
This includes your employer's processes for deciding who is offered a job, criteria for promotion or training, benefits, working conditions and contractual arrangements.
For example:
Supervisors in an organisation are usually employed on a full-time basis. The employer agrees to a disabled person whose impairment causes severe fatigue working on a part-time or job share basis. By doing this, the employer is making a reasonable adjustment.
For example:
The design of a particular workplace makes it difficult for a disabled person with a hearing impairment to hear, because the main office is open plan and has hard flooring, so there is a lot of background noise. Their employer agrees that staff meetings should be held in a quieter place that allows that person to fully participate in the meeting. By doing this, the employer is making a reasonable adjustment.
Last updated: 18 Nov 2019