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2nd October 2008

NEWS IN BRIEF

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Guidance

Given the widespread ignorance among employers and managers about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the TUC has published guidance for trade union negotiators to help them make the most of the legislation.

The guidance sets out what the law says and points out, among other things that:

• The legal obligation on employers to consider reasonable adjustments for disabled workers is a crucial concept that can be used when negotiating changes to absence procedures
• Unions should use the DDA to persuade employers to adopt progressive policies and procedures rather than going to tribunal
• Employers, managers and union representatives need training in the DDA and what it requires
• The Disability Equality Duty in the public sector puts even greater emphasis on improving awareness of disability, and unions should use the law to change practices, policies and procedures accordingly
• Unions should ensure that employers count employees’ absence for reasons associated with disability separately from sickness absence
• Unions should negotiate with their employer to adopt a comprehensive “disability leave” policy.

To download the guidance, go to: www.tuc.org.uk