Although employment rights are more openly discussed than ever before and there is greater awareness of discrimination laws that doesn’t mean you won’t be subjected to unfair treatment in the workplace if you have a disability.
Sadly, acts of medical condition discrimination are still happening on a daily basis across all sorts of businesses and industry settings.
If you feel that you are being subjected to discriminatory behavior in the workplace as a result of a disability here are some key points to consider.
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Understanding what disability discrimination looks like
A good starting point would be to understand exactly what disability discrimination is.
In general terms, it is when someone with a disability is clearly being treated less favorably than someone without a disability, especially in the same work setting or circumstances.
There can also be examples of indirect disability discrimination. A typical example of this would be when a business operates a set of rules or policies that apply to everyone but those rules then mean that someone with a disability would be disadvantaged.
The law is there to protect you
Although there is always room for improvement, not just in some employer’s attitudes when it comes to disabilities, but in the laws that exist to protect you. The Disability Discrimination Act is a very clear legal framework that makes it illegal for an employer to treat you unfairly as a result of your disability.
The Disability Discrimination Act is also designed to protect you if you have had a disability in the past or if you develop a disability in the future.
It is also worth bearing in mind that the act is also wide-ranging enough to offer protection to people who are either relatives, carers, or friends of people with a disability.
How can the Disability Discrimination Act protect you?
There are many aspects of the act that are designed to provide the level of protection that you should be entitled to in order to be treated with equality.
If you are seeking employment, the act states that you should be given the same opportunity to get a job than anyone else, especially if you have the right credentials and experience as another applicant.
There are a whole host of other scenarios where you are afforded a good level of protection from discrimination.
Another example would be in educational opportunities. You should be allowed to enroll or study in exactly the same courses as anyone else, regardless of your disability.
Harassment is unacceptable
Another key point to highlight is that the act is designed to offer protection from harassment.
Harassment is defined as a situation where someone attempts to intimidate or insult you because of your disability. Being subjected to humiliation as a result of having a disability is not just morally wrong, it is also against the law.
If you are being treated unfairly due to having a disability there is a good chance that you will have a chance to get the protection and fairness you are entitled to, thanks to the Disability Discrimination Act.
It is also a good idea to seek professional legal guidance if you are being discriminated against, as they will know the law inside out and be able to help you address the situation in the best way possible.
