Disability in Employment FAQs

What is a disability?

In an employment context, disability can be defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out their normal day-to-day activities.

What can an employer do to help?

An employer can make reasonable adjustments to either the workplace, workstation or working environment to help a person with a disability to cope. The Jersey Employment Trust has published a useful guide  for employers.

What is a reasonable adjustment?

A' reasonable' adjustment is any step(s) that it is reasonable to have to take in all the circumstances. These adjustments should ensure that employment arrangements or premises do not put a person with a disability at a disadvantage in comparison to a non-disabled person.

For example things that may have a bearing would be the financial cost of the adjustment, the resources of the employer and the practicability of the adjustment.

When does discrimination occur?

When an employer treats a person with a disability less favourably than he treats other people and this treatment cannot be justified.