By Sarah Ashberry, Principal Lawyer
A government-commissioned review has found that most disabled employees who request workplace reasonable adjustments receive at least some of the support they need, but significant barriers remain throughout the process. The research, conducted by the Policy Insights Unit on behalf of the Cabinet Office Disability Unit, examined evidence from tribunals, Acas conciliators, experts and existing studies to understand why delays occur when decisions on reasonable adjustments are made.
The report found that knowledge gaps are one of the biggest obstacles for both employers and employees. While the Equality Act 2010 requires employers to make reasonable adjustments, the concept of what is “reasonable” remains intentionally flexible, leaving many employers uncertain about their legal obligations and some employees unclear about what support they are entitled to request.
Researchers identified delays, fear of negative consequences, unclear workplace procedures and concerns about cost as recurring barriers. However, the evidence suggests delays may not be as significant a factor as commonly perceived, with tribunal judges, legal experts and Acas conciliators generally viewing them as less influential than issues such as lack of guidance and inconsistent workplace processes.
The review also found that many disabled workers who could benefit from adjustments never make a request, often because of concerns about stigma or discrimination. Meanwhile, smaller employers may be particularly affected by limited HR resources and delays in accessing external support such as Access to Work funding.
Although evidence on the overall process remains limited, the report concludes that effective reasonable adjustments can improve retention, wellbeing and productivity, underlining the importance of clearer guidance and more consistent workplace practices.