HR policies 'lagging' | Surge in workplace disability discrimination claims due to mental health epidemic

Disability discrimination disputes in workplaces are surging as employers struggle to get to grips with mental health issues among staff.

Law firm Nockolds conducted an analysis of data obtained from Acas, the workplace conciliation and arbitration service run by the Government, which revealed that while employment tribunal claims sent to Acas for early conciliation increased by 7 percent over the last two years, from 31,198 to 33,501, disability discrimination claims sent for conciliation have surged by 30 percent, from 6,545 to 8,496.

Disability discrimination claims now comprise a quarter of the total number of claims referred to Acas for conciliation.

Nockolds explained that early conciliation is when Acas talks to both employer and employee about the dispute, with the intention of facilitating an agreement without having to issue Employment Tribunal proceedings.