A ‘reasonable adjustment’ is a change to remove or reduce the effect of:

• an employee’s disability so they can do their job
• a job applicant’s disability when applying for a job

The reasonable adjustment could be to:

• the workplace
• the ways things are done
• get someone to help the employee or job applicant

When an employer must consider reasonable adjustments

By law, an employer must consider making reasonable adjustments when:

• they know, or could be expected to know, an employee or job applicant has a disability
• an employee or job applicant with a disability asks for adjustments
• an employee with a disability is having difficulty with any part of their job
• an employee’s absence record, sickness record or delay in returning to work is because of or linked to their disability

The employer must make the changes if they’re reasonable.

The employer must also consider reasonable adjustments for anything linked to an employee’s disability. For example, if an employer does not allow an assistance dog in the building for a partially sighted person, it’s likely to be discrimination.

Find out more about disability discrimination.

What is reasonable

What’s ‘reasonable’ will depend on each situation. The employer needs to consider carefully if the adjustment:

• will remove or reduce the disadvantage for the person with the disability
• is practical to make
• is affordable by the employer or business
• could harm the health and safety of others

What the employer can consider changing

The employer must look at what they can do to reduce or remove the disadvantage for the person with a disability, such as:

• changing working arrangements, for example the employee’s shift pattern
• removing something from the workplace, for example bright lights above the employee’s workstation
• providing something in the workplace, for example an accessible car parking space
• providing extra or specialised equipment
• getting someone in to help, for example a sign language interpreter

To help make the best decision, the employer could:

• get professional advice
• get quotes
• research different options

To help see what adjustments are needed, the employer and employee could agree to get an occupational health assessment.

Examples of reasonable adjustments

Examples of reasonable adjustments can include:

• providing the right type of phone for an employee who uses a hearing aid
• arranging for an interview to be held on the ground floor for a job applicant who uses a wheelchair
• replacing a desk chair with one designed for an employee who has a disability affecting their back
• giving more one-to-one support to help prioritise the work of an employee suffering from anxiety 
• a phased return to work for an employee who’s been on long-term sick leave because of their disability
• allowing more frequent breaks for someone with diabetes to get the right amount of food or drink throughout the day
• giving more time for someone with dyslexia to do any written or reading tests that are part of the interview process

See more examples of reasonable adjustments on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

Good practice for employers

It’s a good idea for the employer to focus on the reasonable adjustments they can make rather than trying to work out if an employee’s condition is a disability.

Find more advice from the Business Disability Forum.

Workplace policies

The employer should make sure their workplace policies do not put employees with disabilities at a disadvantage.

For example, they might look at policies on working hours, working from home, shift patterns and managing sickness absence.

Keeping a record of reasonable adjustments

When an employer makes a reasonable adjustment for an employee, it’s a good idea for them to set up a ‘reasonable adjustments passport’.

This is an up-to-date record that the employee can show if any new management comes in, saving them having to go through the same process again.

It also helps employees and employers make sure the reasonable adjustment is:

• correct
• practical
• up to date

Find out more about reasonable adjustments passports from the Trades Union Congress.

When an employer might not have to make a change

The employer does not have to change the basic nature of the job for the person.

If an employer is not sure if they must make an adjustment for someone with a disability, they should get legal advice first.

Who covers the costs

The employer is responsible for paying for any reasonable adjustments.

Many adjustments can be simple and affordable. But a small business might not be able to afford the same level of adjustments as a big company.

An employer does not have to make adjustments that are unreasonable, but should still try to find other ways to support the employee.

If an employer cannot afford a reasonable adjustment, the employee with a disability might be able to apply for funding through the government’s Access to Work scheme.