Six month delay - Employer fails to implement basic adjustments

 

Nine month wait - Some adjustments still not implemented after nine months

   

The human cost

Early retirement - Career cut short due to preventable decline

Mental health crisis - Acute deterioration requiring intervention

Relapse - Return of depression and anxiety symptoms.

 

The employee's condition worsened significantly during the waiting period. What could have been managed became a crisis.

 

The financial penalty

Total compensation: £202,452.03. The Tribunal ruled that Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust had failed in its duty under the Equality Act.

 

A leadership failure, not just policy

Urgency gap - Leaders failed to create systems that prioritised time-sensitive accommodation requests.

 

Cultural blindspot - The organisation's culture allowed reasonable adjustments to be treated as optional extras.

 

Systemic issue - This wasn't an isolated incident but a symptom of organisational dysfunction.

 

The case highlights that even healthcare providers can fail at supporting employee wellbeing.

 

Delay is not neutral

Request made - Employee asks for support

Inaction period - Organisation delays response

Health deteriorates - Employee's condition worsens

Costs accumulate - Human and financial toll grows

 

Every day of inaction increased both suffering and financial liability. What seemed like minor delays had major consequences.

 

Three critical Q's for leaders

 

Recognition - Would your managers recognise a request for reasonable adjustments when they hear one?

 

Urgency - Do your team members understand how quickly they must act on accommodation requests?

 

Process - Is your return-to-work process robust enough to protect both people and the business?

 

These questions reveal whether your organisation treats reasonable adjustments as a core business priority.

 

Beyond compliance: A Leadership imperative

Legal compliance - Meet minimum statutory requirements

Cultural commitment - Build systems that prioritise support

Leadership excellence - Create a workplace where everyone can succeed

 

Supporting inclusion and employees mental health isn't just about avoiding tribunals. It's about building organisations where people can do their best work. If you would like to know more about how to stay compliant and make your whole organisation inclusive, optimised and attractive to all talent, contact our team today, we'll show you how.