Employment tribunal rules in favour of government

An Employment and Appeals Tribunal has ruled that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) did not directly discriminate against a deaf senior diplomat under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and did not breach its duty to make reasonable adjustments.

In Cordell v Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it was found that the government did not discriminate against Ms Cordell when it withdrew an offer of a post in Kazakhstan because of the cost of providing English lip speaker support for her.

In the initial hearing, the tribunal dismissed Ms Cordell's assertions that it would have been reasonable for the FCO to provide her with a lip speaker.

On appeal, the Employment Appeals Tribunal agreed with the initial tribunal and stated that while reasons for rescinding her job offer had to do with her disability, it was not the same as saying that her disability itself was the reason for the treatment.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, it is the responsibility of an employer to make reasonable adjustments to working practices to prevent putting disabled persons at an unfair disadvantage.

Posted by Phil Hammond