FREE SME Guide to Reasonable Adjustments for Disabled employees

Making reasonable Adjustments

As an employer you must make reasonable adjustments to make sure that any:

• Workers/employees
• Trainees
• Apprentices
• Contract workers
• Business partners

Are not substantially disadvantaged when undertaking their roles

What are reasonable adjustments with disabilities ?

What is deemed to be reasonable is dependent on each situation. As an employer you must consider:

• If the adjustment will reduce or remove the disadvantage for the person with the disability ?
• Is it practical to make the adjustment ?
• Are the costs reasonable and affordable for the business ?
• If undertaken, would the adjustment pose a risk of harm to the health and safety of others ? 

These changes can include:

• Amending the recruitment process
• Asking candidates if they need any help or adjustments to attend interviews or under the role advertised
• Conducting interviews on the ground floor to accommodate less able bodied candidates
• Allowing candidates to use electronic devices to aid with completion of written tests
• Doing things a different way
• Making physical changes to the workplace i.e. ramps, signage, hearing support systems
• Providing specialist work equipment, keyboards, chairs and desks
• Training, Development
• Offering recreation or refreshment facilities

When must an employer consider reasonable adjustments ?

An employer by law must consider / make reasonable adjustments when:

• They became aware of or reasonably should have been aware that the employee or job applicant had a disability
• A job applicant or employee asked for an adjustment
• An employee is having difficulty undertaking part or all of their job role
• An employee’s absence record or their ability to return to work after absence is delayed due to a disability 

Can an employer refuse to make changes for people with disabilities ?

Yes, an employer can refuse to make changes if they can demonstrate that any changes needed:

• are not practically or financially reasonable
• would fundamentally change the basic / core nature of the job role

Before considering refusing to make adjustments for someone with a disability formal legal advice should be taken

What happens if i fail to make reasonable adjustments ?

Failure of an employer to make reasonable adjustments without just cause, could be deemed by the courts to be discriminatory and could result in an unlimited tribunal award.