Legal Representation for Meetings at Work – A Reasonable Adjustment for Disabled Employees?

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has recently confirmed that it may be a reasonable adjustment for a disabled employee to have legal representation. In Yorkshire Housing Limited v Cuerden the EAT upheld the tribunal’s decision that the claimant, who suffered from a major depressive disorder and panic disorder, was put at a susbstantial disadvantage by her employer’s refusal to allow her solicitor to attend a meeting between her and her employer. Based on this decision, disabled employees may be able to successfully argue that they need legal representation at internal meetings in order to ensure that they are not disadvantaged.