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Student carers
Employment Tribunal ruling raises wider implications for HEIs
On 27 November, the Employment Tribunal confirmed that existing UK law (the Disability Discrimination Act) can be extended to protect employees associated with disabled people (such as parents and carers) from discrimination. This follows a ruling in July by the European Court of Justice.
This ruling was made in respect to a case between Coleman v. Attridge Law. Ms Coleman alleged she was forced to resign from her job as a legal secretary at Attridge Law after she was harassed and refused flexible working conditions (to enable her to care for her disabled child) that other employees were allowed.
The media focus has been on the potential implications for employees, however, ECU considers that student carers may also have protection from associative disability discrimination.
Further information
ECU will analyse any guidance on associative discrimination produced in the draft Equality bill, which has been announced for the new parliamentary session, and will continue to update the sector on any possible legal consequences.
Contacts
ECU Press Office
Anna Roberts Allison
Communications Manager
Telephone: 020 7438 1018
Email: anna.robertsallison@ecu.ac.uk
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