Effective workplace adjustments remove barriers and enable staff to fulfil their potential, and the University’s updated Workplace Adjustment Toolkit provides guidance on workplace adjustments (or reasonable adjustments) for staff and managers.
The toolkit includes information about manager responsibilities for how to arrange, implement, change and review adjustments. It also signposts to sources of information and guidance for all staff.
What are workplace adjustments?
Workplace adjustments remove or reduce barriers a staff member may be facing, enabling them to do their job. Managers should work proactively and collaboratively with staff to put in place workplace adjustments where needed, considering what is reasonable.
Each workplace adjustment will be specific to the individual's needs, their role and where they work, and they may be short term or long term. Individuals may have similar conditions but can experience different barriers in the workplace and require different workplace adjustments. You can find out more about workplace adjustments on our webpages. The toolkit includes examples of types of workplace adjustments and relevant policies and processes to support implementation.
The University has a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments where a disabled member of staff (or job applicant) is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to others, by the application of a “provision, criteria or practice”.
Guidance for managers
Managers are responsible for having conversations with new and existing staff to discuss and agree on workplace adjustments which remove or reduce barriers an employee is facing, enabling them to do their job. Managers and staff should work together to put in place and regularly review workplace adjustments ensuring they remain effective.
Managers must consider that a staff member who is struggling at work may be disabled and need adjustments, whether they have told you about their disability or not. You can read further guidance for managers on our webpages.
Advice, support and information
The advice and support webpage includes information about teams who can support managers, and external support and resources.
There are also e-learning courses available on LearnUpon which all staff are encouraged to complete, including Disability Essentials and Introduction to Neurodiversity.
The University is a member of Business Disability Forum (BDF) which has a range of resources, including on workplace adjustments and condition and disability specific information. All staff have access to their Knowledge Hub by registering with their Sussex email address. Managers and HR colleagues can contact their confidential Advice Service.