Claimant v Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Outcome
Individual claims
The tribunal found that the claimant was not unfairly dismissed by the respondent. The dismissal was found to be fair and within the range of reasonable responses available to a reasonable employer in the circumstances.
The tribunal found the respondent did not fail to make reasonable adjustments in relation to three specific alleged failures: failing to provide monthly welfare meetings, not electronically recording meetings, and allowing meetings to exceed 30 minutes. The tribunal concluded these did not constitute failures under sections 20 and 21 of the Equality Act 2010.
Facts
Miss Smallridge was employed by Walsall Council and was dismissed. She brought claims of unfair dismissal and failure to make reasonable adjustments for disability. The specific adjustments alleged were the failure to provide monthly welfare meetings, failure to electronically record meetings, and allowing meetings to exceed 30 minutes. The case was heard before a full tribunal panel over one day with oral reasons given.
Decision
The tribunal unanimously dismissed both claims. They found the dismissal was fair and that the respondent had not failed in its duty to make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. The specific alleged failures regarding meeting procedures were not found to constitute breaches of the duty.
Practical note
Employers must ensure reasonable adjustments are tailored to the individual's needs, but not all requested adjustments will be found reasonable or necessary, particularly procedural requests around meeting formats and duration.
Legal authorities cited
Statutes
Case details
- Case number
- 1306941/2023
- Decision date
- 14 February 2025
- Hearing type
- full merits
- Hearing days
- 1
- Classification
- contested
Respondent
- Sector
- local government
- Represented
- Yes
- Rep type
- barrister
Claimant representation
- Represented
- No