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What is Reasonable? The Operation of ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ and ‘Disability’ Provisions Under The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 Cover

What is Reasonable? The Operation of ‘Reasonable Accommodation’ and ‘Disability’ Provisions Under The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015

Open Access
|Jul 2022

Figures & Tables

Expert Practitioners

PractitionerRelevance to the Study
Regional Director, Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC)Extensive experience representing employers in employment equality cases
HR Director, Multinational companyThe company was the respondent in a seminal legal case on disability discrimination taken by an employee
Advocacy representative, Irish Wheelchair AssociationActs as a voice for disabled people; lobbies policy makers on disability related issues

Reasonable accommodations sought by complainants

Types of Reasonable Accommodation soughtNo. of decisions
Transfer/Light duties47
Not stated18
Adjustment to working hours11
Equipment purchase4
Infrastructure adjustment/provision3
Hire another worker to assist/substitute for complainant2
Roll over of fixed-term contract2
Paid to attend medical appointments2
Training for different role1
Weighted score in promotion interview to compensate for disability1
New disciplinary process that allows the introduction of disability related evidence1
Change of Manager1
Hire temporary cover during unpaid sick leave1
Repeat of hearing test while complainant is wearing hearing aids1
Total95

Sector of employment of complainants

SectorNo. of Decisions
Manufacturing20
General Public Service14
Retail12
Local Gov. and Civil Service9
Leisure/Hospitality6
Driving4
Warehousing4
Construction2
Caring (non-medical)2
Security2
Others20
Total95

Types of disability cited by complainants

Type of Disability CitedNo. of decisionsType of Disability CitedNo. of decisions
Back injury18Bowel Condition1
Diabetes6Chest pain1
Depression5Elbow joint impairment1
Eyesight5Limited Hand function1
Stress5Infertility1
Not stated4Imputed Depression1
Mental Health4Kidney Failure1
Hearing Impairment3Knee pain1
Cancer3Lupus1
Asthma2Lymphoedema1
Balance2Multiple Sclerosis1
Epilepsy2Narcolepsy1
Fibromyalgia2Limited Neck function1
Heart2Obsessive Compulsive Disorder1
Hypertension2Phobia1
Hypothyroidism2Schizophrenia1
Acute chest infection1Shoulder1
Alcoholism1Speech impediment1
Anxiety1Ulcerative colitis1
Arthritis1Varicose veins1
Asperger’s1Long term wrist injury1
Bipolar1Brain Haemorrhage1
Total 95
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ijm-2022-0004 | Journal eISSN: 2451-2834 | Journal ISSN: 1649-248X
Language: English
Page range: 37 - 51
Published on: Jul 4, 2022
Published by: Irish Academy of Management
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 3 issues per year

© 2022 Donie McGrath, Michelle O’Sullivan, published by Irish Academy of Management
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.