Appendix 4: Glossary of terms

Discrimination

This means that a person is treated unfairly compared to another person. All disabled staff should be treated fairly at work.

 

Law

Laws are rules written and approved by the Government. There is a law called the Equality Act 2010, which superseded the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and 2005 which says that employers must not treat disabled people unfairly.

 

Responsibility

A responsibility is something that you have to do. If your job is to answer phone calls, then it is your responsibility to answer the phone. Employers have responsibilities too, namely things that they must do. An employer’s responsibilities include making sure you get paid and are safe at work. Some of the responsibilities of employers are part of the law.

 

Reasonable adjustments

A reasonable adjustment is a change that will make it easier for you to get or keep a job. It must be a change that you need because of your disability. It must be a change that the employer can afford to make. This is based on key details such as the size of the employer. The change must not make things very difficult for the other people who work there. The law says that employers must try to make changes and must ask disabled people what changes they need.

 

Disclosure

Disclosure is the term given when a piece of information is revealed, often having been kept secret or not being made known to another. There is no correct way to make a disclosure, however it can be a sensitive issue and each individual must rely on their own judgement as to when they wish to make it.

Mutual sensitivity and understanding are important for both the employer and the employee, as a lack of understanding may lead to misconceptions of an employee’s ability. What is paramount is that the employee must feel safe and feel that the employer is going to support them.

 

Contacts

We are always pleased to hear your views and your comments as these help us make improvements. If there is anything you would like to share, please email: EqualityandDiversity@nottshc.nhs.uk.

 

Top of page