Research by law firm Fox & Partners has discovered that employment tribunal claims for disability discrimination have risen 37% in the past year, eight times faster than growth in all claims. 6,550 claims were made in 2018, up from 4,770 the previous year. The law firm believes the increase may be driven by individuals’ increased willingness to bring claims related to mental health issues, arising from the growing awareness in recent years of the problems these issues cause in the workplace.
It added that workplace disability discrimination is often linked to high levels of stress and depression affecting an individual’s work, with employees often absent because of stress. However if they are dismissed or part dismissed through another form of disciplinary action they may still bring such a claim. The abolition of tribunal fees in July 2017 had also contributed to a surge in claims.
