Empoyment of Visually Impared staff member and transport.
Discussion
Hi here is a case I need a bit of informal advice on. I don't want this to blow up in our faces, and put a foot wrong.
Staff member - long standing and valued member of the team.
This person has a visual disability and can not drive so is reliant on public transport.
The person used to have a role with the company (Under previous ownership) Where she started work at 5 am before public transport. The company provided and paid for a taxi.
The employee now works during normal daytime hours as her job changed. She is able to commute to work via public transport with ease. Never late, often early.
Her employers wish to return her to her role starting at 5am. In the time since she was last on this work pattern, the company has moved further away from the emplyee's home. This has not effected her using public transport.
However, the employer will not now pay for a taxi, claiming it was an arrangement with the old company owners. The old company owners allowed the employee to use the company taxi account. It was not written into a contract, but was a long-running (5 year) understandong.
There are other team members who are ablebodied and who can drive. They are available to cover early shifts.
Taxi costs would be upwards of £100 per week. The employee claims not to be able to afford this - her current costs are £30 a week. She claims that becasue of her disability and therefore inability to get to work by public transport, she is being treated unfairly and is being discriminated against. She is considering leaving the company's employment because she will not be able to afford to go to work. She is threatening legal action - I am guessing constructive/unfair dismissal, hurt feelings etc. She has been visibly upset at work about this matter.
The employee's disability is accomodated at work on an informal basis - things like adjustments to IT screens are done in house.
Any experts with a view on this?
Cheers.
Staff member - long standing and valued member of the team.
This person has a visual disability and can not drive so is reliant on public transport.
The person used to have a role with the company (Under previous ownership) Where she started work at 5 am before public transport. The company provided and paid for a taxi.
The employee now works during normal daytime hours as her job changed. She is able to commute to work via public transport with ease. Never late, often early.
Her employers wish to return her to her role starting at 5am. In the time since she was last on this work pattern, the company has moved further away from the emplyee's home. This has not effected her using public transport.
However, the employer will not now pay for a taxi, claiming it was an arrangement with the old company owners. The old company owners allowed the employee to use the company taxi account. It was not written into a contract, but was a long-running (5 year) understandong.
There are other team members who are ablebodied and who can drive. They are available to cover early shifts.
Taxi costs would be upwards of £100 per week. The employee claims not to be able to afford this - her current costs are £30 a week. She claims that becasue of her disability and therefore inability to get to work by public transport, she is being treated unfairly and is being discriminated against. She is considering leaving the company's employment because she will not be able to afford to go to work. She is threatening legal action - I am guessing constructive/unfair dismissal, hurt feelings etc. She has been visibly upset at work about this matter.
The employee's disability is accomodated at work on an informal basis - things like adjustments to IT screens are done in house.
Any experts with a view on this?
Cheers.
Get in touch with Access to Work
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employm...
They have provided a lot of funding for disabled members of my staff (including those with visual impairments). The sorts of things they have helped with include taxis to and from work, equipment for enlarging documents and a £7000 wheelchair.
A great initiative that actually works.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employm...
They have provided a lot of funding for disabled members of my staff (including those with visual impairments). The sorts of things they have helped with include taxis to and from work, equipment for enlarging documents and a £7000 wheelchair.
A great initiative that actually works.
The Dirty Bubble said:
Get in touch with Access to Work
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employm...
They have provided a lot of funding for disabled members of my staff (including those with visual impairments). The sorts of things they have helped with include taxis to and from work, equipment for enlarging documents and a £7000 wheelchair.
A great initiative that actually works.
I second this, they are actually really good and we have two members of staff with learning disabilities among other things that get Taxi's to and from work which are paid for through this. The council comes round to check up on how they are doing here more than they would normally but thats not really a problem as we arn't doing anything wrong to begin with...http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employm...
They have provided a lot of funding for disabled members of my staff (including those with visual impairments). The sorts of things they have helped with include taxis to and from work, equipment for enlarging documents and a £7000 wheelchair.
A great initiative that actually works.
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