Absence Management Policies and Disabled Employees

Many organisations have absence management policies outlining the level of attendance employees must maintain or face disciplinary action.  These normally apply equally to disabled and non-disabled employees.  However the law states that provisions, criterions or practices, such as absence management policies, must be reasonably adjusted to ensure disabled workers are not disadvantaged compared to non-disabled workers.  The results of a recent case have highlighted that employers are expected to make reasonable adjustments to policies such as this, not just to ensure equal treatment for all staff, but to take positive steps for their disabled employees.