Disability discrimination claims at Employment Tribunal on the rise

The number of disability discrimination claims brought before employment tribunals rose to 6,550 in 2018, a 37% increase on the previous year, rising more than eight times faster than the growth in all other tribunal claims, according to new figures. 

The total number of claims at employment tribunals increased by 4 per cent to reach 178,990 last year.  

Discrimination claims relating to mental health are also on the rise which indicates that employers should regard this subject as a priority, dealing with the issues before they reach tribunal stage. Although another theory may be that an increasing awareness of mental health may have contributed to the increase in disability discrimination claims, as employees become aware their mental ill-health could be classed as a disability under the Equality Act.