National Diabetes Week

This week is national diabetes week at the theme this year is ‘Know Diabetes, Fight Diabetes’.

There are several dedicated charities that raise money and awareness for this condition and by having a dedicated awareness week people are encouraged to get together, share their knowledge and shared experiences.

If you have diabetes and have experienced discrimination because of it or because of any of its side-effects, you may have grounds for a disability discrimination case against your employer.

The Equality Act 2010 has given disabled workers protection from being treated less favourably and ACAS have reported that the Act has made it easier for a worker to show that they are disabled and protected from disability discrimination.

The Equality Act states that a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities, which would include things like using a computer, reading a book or using public transport.

The employer therefore has a duty to make reasonable adjustments for workers to help them overcome a disadvantage resulting from a disability. The employer has to know, or should reasonably be expected to know that the employee has a disability before they can be expected to consider such changes to the workplace or role.

However, the Equality Act also includes a new provision which makes it unlawful, except in certain circumstances, for employers to ask about a candidate’s health or any disability before offering them work.

For more information please contact Ashley Hunt and Carrie-Ann Randall on 01858 445 480 or Vaishali Thakerar and Alex Reid on 0116 212 1000 for free initial advice.

 

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