Cases2200224/2024

Claimant v Secretary of State for Justice

27 June 2025Before Employment Judge L BrownLondon Central

Outcome

Claimant succeeds

Individual claims

Failure to Make Reasonable Adjustments(disability)succeeded

By consent, the tribunal found the Respondent failed to make reasonable adjustments by not allowing the claimant to work from home on four specified occasions: 7 November 2022, 28 February 2023, a date in June 2023, and 19 September 2023.

Discrimination Arising from Disability (s.15)(disability)succeeded

By consent, the tribunal found the Respondent subjected the Claimant to discrimination arising from disability by issuing an unsatisfactory attendance warning (stage 1) on 18 January 2023 and a final written warning in relation to attendance on 9 October 2023.

Facts

The Claimant, Ms Platukyte, was employed by the Secretary of State for Justice and had a disability. She requested to work from home on four occasions between November 2022 and September 2023, which were refused. She was also given attendance warnings in January and October 2023. The parties reached a consent judgment on liability.

Decision

By consent, the tribunal found the Respondent liable for failing to make reasonable adjustments by refusing home working on four occasions, and for disability discrimination arising from disability by issuing attendance warnings. This was a liability judgment only; remedy to be determined separately.

Practical note

Public sector employers must carefully consider reasonable adjustment requests for home working and ensure attendance management procedures do not discriminate against disabled employees with disability-related absences.

Legal authorities cited

Statutes

EqA 2010 s.20EqA 2010 s.15

Case details

Case number
2200224/2024
Decision date
27 June 2025
Hearing type
full merits
Hearing days
2
Classification
contested

Respondent

Name
Secretary of State for Justice
Sector
central government
Represented
Yes
Rep type
barrister

Claimant representation

Represented
Yes
Rep type
solicitor