Claimant v Greater London Authority
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal did not determine the race discrimination claims at this preliminary hearing. This hearing was limited to determining disability status and the application to amend to add disability discrimination claims.
The tribunal did not determine the direct race discrimination claims at this preliminary hearing. This hearing was limited to determining disability status and the application to amend.
The tribunal did not determine the race harassment claims at this preliminary hearing. This hearing was limited to determining disability status and the application to amend.
The tribunal did not determine the victimisation claims at this preliminary hearing. This hearing was limited to determining disability status and the application to amend.
The tribunal found that the claimant was not a disabled person within the meaning of section 6 Equality Act 2010 during the relevant period (11 December 2023 to 29 March 2024). While the claimant had impairments (dyslexia, mixed anxiety and depression, PTSD) that were long-term, the tribunal was not satisfied that these impairments had a substantial adverse effect on the claimant's day-to-day activities during the relevant period. The claimant provided insufficient medical evidence and GP records to demonstrate the impact on daily activities.
The tribunal dismissed the reasonable adjustments claim because it found that the claimant was not a disabled person at the relevant time. Without establishing disability status, the claim for failure to make reasonable adjustments could not succeed.
The tribunal dismissed the disability harassment claim because it found that the claimant was not a disabled person at the relevant time. The threshold requirement of disability status was not met.
Facts
The claimant was employed by the Greater London Authority as an Executive Assistant from March 2023 to March 2024, initially as an agency worker then on a fixed-term contract. She was on sick leave from 7 February 2024 until her contract ended on 29 March 2024. She brought claims of race discrimination (direct discrimination, harassment, victimisation) and sought to amend her claim to add disability discrimination claims (discrimination arising from disability, failure to make reasonable adjustments, harassment) based on dyslexia, mixed anxiety and depression, and PTSD. The claimant alleged she suffered bereavements in January and March 2024 and experienced work-related stress from November 2023.
Decision
The tribunal found that the claimant was not a disabled person under section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 during the relevant period (11 December 2023 to 29 March 2024). While the tribunal accepted that the claimant had long-term impairments of dyslexia, mixed anxiety and depression, and PTSD, it was not satisfied that these impairments had a substantial adverse effect on her day-to-day activities during the relevant period. The claimant failed to provide sufficient medical evidence, particularly GP records, to demonstrate the impact of her conditions. The disability discrimination claims were therefore dismissed.
Practical note
A claimant seeking to establish disability status must provide robust medical evidence demonstrating not just the existence of a condition, but its substantial adverse effect on day-to-day activities during the relevant period; GP letters prepared for litigation without supporting contemporaneous medical records may be insufficient.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 6004805/2024
- Decision date
- 7 May 2025
- Hearing type
- preliminary
- Hearing days
- 2
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- public sector
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Employment details
- Role
- Executive Assistant
- Service
- 1 years
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No