Accommodating Disabled Employees In The Workplace

A recent employment tribunal case has highlighted the care employers must take to ensure the well-being of their workers - particularly if a worker suffers from a medical condition or disability.

Elizabeth Andrews, who has Crohn's disease, made a claim against her employer, Tate Modern, under the Disability Discrimination Act, alleging that they had failed to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate her condition.

Ms Andrews previously worked at Tate Britain, but was moved to Tate Modern in November 2007 following an incident with a colleague. After a few weeks, she claimed that the colder temperature in the building aggravated her medical condition. Even though her claim was ultimately unsuccessful, employers do have a duty to ensure that their employees are not exposed to unreasonable temperatures at work.