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Original poster

Is this disability discrimination?

184 replies

oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 15:58

My current workplace is relocating to a site that will be at least a 45 drive away which although not ideal is fine (I currently work 10mins away from home and this was one of the reasons I applied.
Unfortunately my car is 14 years old and although very reliable it's age does means a large repair bill could happen if something was to go wrong and there's no way i can afford to pay a large bill without saving up for it ....
I could in theory get public transport to the new site but it would take me 3 buses and a 20 minute walk (total nearly 2 hours each way )
Due to having severe arthritis cold and fatigue are things that make my condition worse (I already have a couple of small 'reasonable adjustments in place to accommodate this)and reality don't think i could manage the journey via public transport if for any reason I couldn't use my car .

My point is could or should my organisation be making a reasonable adjustment under the DDA for the above scenario?

Just for clarity I earn 25k a year as a lone parent so there is no way i can afford to buy a newer car ..

OP posts:
PaintDecisions · 19/02/2025 15:59

No.

Your car is, I'm afraid, a you problem.

Baguettesandcheeseforever · 19/02/2025 16:01

Have you looked at access to work grants? If your car died, you could look at this. I know a person with visual impairment who uses it for taxis to work.

Rainingalldayonmyhead · 19/02/2025 16:03

Companies are allowed to move and won’t always be conveniently for everyone. Getting to work is your responsibility so unfortunately it isn’t disability discrimination it’s a distance problem and a car problem.

Legodaisy · 19/02/2025 16:07

No I don’t think so.

Start saving up for a new car now? You know it’s old and will need replacing soon anyway. You can get a decent secondhand car with low mileage for £3-4k (we are looking at the moment).

I don’t see the point of having a car if you’re too afraid to do a 45 min drive in it. But I don’t think it’s your workplace’s problem.

Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:16

Legodaisy · 19/02/2025 16:07

No I don’t think so.

Start saving up for a new car now? You know it’s old and will need replacing soon anyway. You can get a decent secondhand car with low mileage for £3-4k (we are looking at the moment).

I don’t see the point of having a car if you’re too afraid to do a 45 min drive in it. But I don’t think it’s your workplace’s problem.

I'm not afraid of doing a 45 min drive !
The point of my post is that can I reasonably be expected to travel 2 hours each way on public transport including a walk in the cold which due to my disability would exasperate my symptoms.
Three years ago,before my arthritis got bad i would have just got there via public transport despite the long journey...

OP posts:
roselilylavender · 19/02/2025 16:17

What reasonable adjustment would you like them to make for you? Are you suggesting you work from home? From a different office? Or that they don't move offices?

somedayforoneday · 19/02/2025 16:19

You can't get a reasonable adjustment because your car is old!

PaintDecisions · 19/02/2025 16:20

oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:16

I'm not afraid of doing a 45 min drive !
The point of my post is that can I reasonably be expected to travel 2 hours each way on public transport including a walk in the cold which due to my disability would exasperate my symptoms.
Three years ago,before my arthritis got bad i would have just got there via public transport despite the long journey...

Show quote history

But you're not being expected to do that. You can drive.

If your car dies, you do what every other person has to and replaces it.

Your job is moving. If you don't move with the job, I guess you'll have no job. And it wouldn't be DD when you have the means and ability to make a reasonable journey even with your disability.

And no one else would want to do a 2hr public transport journey either - so they'd have to drive as well.

HouseOfGoldandBones · 19/02/2025 16:22

OP, please put this in legal matters, some of the advice you're receiving isn't correct.

Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:23

somedayforoneday · 19/02/2025 16:19

You can't get a reasonable adjustment because your car is old!

I'm not expecting a reasonable adjustment because my car is old.
I'm asking for a reasonable adjustment because catching public transport isn't a viable option due to my disability

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 19/02/2025 16:25

As @roselilylavender said, what reasonable adjustment do you think they should make for you?

Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:27

roselilylavender · 19/02/2025 16:17

What reasonable adjustment would you like them to make for you? Are you suggesting you work from home? From a different office? Or that they don't move offices?

I'm not really sure ...Ideally if I was ever in the situation where I was without a vehicle then my organisation would pay for a taxi or allow me to work from home (although I wouldn't be able to do all of my role from home )

OP posts:
Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:29

HouseOfGoldandBones · 19/02/2025 16:22

OP, please put this in legal matters, some of the advice you're receiving isn't correct.

Thank you.
I posted in chat for traffic.

OP posts:
Scampuss · 19/02/2025 16:33

Have you considered applying for PIP?

MagpiePi · 19/02/2025 16:34

If the situation arose that your car broke down, you could ask at the time if you could wfh, but otherwise I think you would just have to suck it up and take leave until your car was fixed.
As others have said, it is not up to your employers to make adjustments because you have an unreliable mode of transport.

LIZS · 19/02/2025 16:36

Accesstowork may cover some of the costs associated with disability ie. Taxi or you could be made redundant if the distance is increased. Is your role suitable for remote working?

mitogoshigg · 19/02/2025 16:44

A company moving isn't discriminating, so no they don't have to make particular arrangements for you due to your disability but they should more widely be considering if the commute is reasonable for each individual, and you can state that it's not a reasonable expectation to go to the new location by public transport if you currently go to work by public transport now. You can request redundancy or assistance from them to enable you to get to the new site

Mrsttcno1 · 19/02/2025 16:50

No this isn’t disability discrimination.

babasaclover · 19/02/2025 16:50

It sounds a right pain in the arse but it is in no way discrimination as they are not treating you any differently to all other employees

Happyher · 19/02/2025 16:53

The clue is in the word ‘reasonable’. Is it reasonable for the company to pay for taxis to and from work? My guess would be no, not indefinitely. Is it reasonable for you to WFH? Possibly depending on your role. You admit yourself you don’t really know what reasonable adjustments they could offer. They may feel the same.

Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 16:53

LIZS · 19/02/2025 16:36

Accesstowork may cover some of the costs associated with disability ie. Taxi or you could be made redundant if the distance is increased. Is your role suitable for remote working?

I could try access to work to pay for a taxi - thanks for the suggestion.

Unfortunately, I've been told that redundancy isn't an option.

I have colleagues that don't drive but they are willing and able to use public transport to get to the new location...My issue is that due to my disability catching public transport to get to work is no longer doable ...

OP posts:
PandoraSox · 19/02/2025 16:55

Maybe talk to them about your worries?

When my DH's car broke down, his employer paid for taxis for a couple of weeks. Which was a surprise because they weren't always the most disability friendly organisation.

Velmy · 19/02/2025 16:56

A company I used to work for paid for a car upgrade for an employee in a similar situation in a salary sacrifice scheme. Might be worth an ask?

Dontlletmedownbruce · 19/02/2025 16:59

In my experience employers don't give a crap about how staff get there and if they move they care even less. I worked with a company that moved from a city centre location to an industrial estate well off the beaten track with no public transport. I had to leave. I already had a car with DH but we would have needed 2 and i didnt get a raise and couldn't afford to stay. Similarly my DH worked in a large suburb with ample parking and all employees travelling by car, then a few years ago downsized to a city centre location with no parking but good transport links. They lost many staff from rural areas that found it too tricky and they didn't care. People choose their home and lifestyle around their work and then are left high and dry when the employer changes location to save on rent.

Original poster
oldandknackerd · 19/02/2025 17:21

PandoraSox · 19/02/2025 16:55

Maybe talk to them about your worries?

When my DH's car broke down, his employer paid for taxis for a couple of weeks. Which was a surprise because they weren't always the most disability friendly organisation.

Thank you ...I can try that too..
It's a shit situation to be in especially when public transport isn't an option due to disability.

OP posts: