The Equality Act 2010 defines a disability and requires employers to consider reasonable adjustments to enable people with a disability to work.

A disability is a physical or mental impairment that is long-term and has a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities.

If you have a disability as defined in the Equality Act, your employer must consider reasonable adjustments to enable you to work. The Equality Act specifies a list of types of adjustments. It is up to the employer to decide on the reasonableness of any adjustments, and they will need to take into account other factors such as safety and cost.

Possible types of reasonable adjustments:

  • Making adjustments to premises
  • Allocating some duties to others
  • Transfer to existing vacancy
  • Altering working hours
  • Assigning to different place of work
  • Time off for rehabilitation, assessment or treatment
  • Arranging training
  • Acquiring or modifying equipment
  • Modifying instructions or reference manuals
  • Modifying procedures for testing or assessment
  • Providing reader or interpreter
  • Providing supervision