The Issue
Clients’ sister called the EASS on her behalf.
Client has hydrocephalies and is also partially sighted.
She has worked in a café in a supermarket for several years clearing tables and tidying up. When a new manager started she was told that she must do all of the duties which includes washing up. She found this particularly difficult to do as she cannot see well enough to know that the plates and cutlery were clean. This led to complaints and also comments from her colleagues about her inability to do the entire job properly and being called useless.
EASS Advice and Support:
Clients’ sister was advised that it is likely that the client meets the definition of disability that the employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments as the client is placed at a substantial disadvantage at work. She was also advised that her colleagues should not be allowed to harass her as this is also unlawful under the Equality Act.
The template letter was emailed to the clients’ sister and who used this to complain to the employer on behalf of her sister. Client has now been asked to load the sink only and the remarks made by her colleagues have stopped. The client is now happy at work.