Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Disability discriminationLatest NewsDiscriminationEmployment tribunalsNeurodiversity

Steep rise in employment tribunal claims over neurodiversity discrimination

by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2022
by Adam McCulloch 2 May 2022 Andy Paradise/Shutterstock
Andy Paradise/Shutterstock

Employment tribunals in which employees alleged they were discriminated against for being ‘neurodiverse’ rose by a third last year, according to one employment specialist.

According to legal firm Fox & Partners, the rise in tribunals – to 93 in 2021 from 70 in 2020 – is likely to be because of an increased awareness about neurodiverse conditions. The number of autism diagnoses increased 787% over the past two decades, whilst prescriptions for medication to treat ADHD jumped 800% according to studies, respectively by the University of Exeter and the British Pharmacological Society.

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that describes the differing ways that people’s brains process information and includes, in addition to ADHD and autism, conditions such as dyslexia, and dyspraxia. It is thought about one in seven people in the UK have some kind of neurodivergence.

Fox’s study showed a 40% rise in employment tribunals relating to autism, a 31% rise in Asperger’s cases and a 14% rise in dyslexia claims in the past year alone.

The law firm said tribunal claims often arose when employees felt sidelined or unsupported or that they’ve been dismissed for reasons linked to their disability. Some professional environments can pose problems for those with neurodiversity. For example, employees with autism may suffer from sensory overload due to noise in the workplace or judging social cues in a professional environment, while those with ADHD may struggle to focus on tasks or manage their time.

It was important, however, to not make assumptions according to better known characteristics, said Fox partner Ivor Adair.

Neurodiversity support

Neurodiversity: how accessible is your recruitment process?

How to be more inclusive of staff with ADHD

He added that businesses that failed to take steps to understand through discussion and embrace neurodivergent individuals may be missing out, particularly at the recruitment or progression stages.

The employment specialist also said it had seen how individuals now felt more comfortable discussing their differences in the workplace more openly. Following the pandemic, conversations about mental health and disability visibility have become more commonplace.

Fox & Partners says that not only should employers be mindful of making adjustments given the prevalence of neurodiversity in the population, but they should look to harness the advantages of a diverse workforce that includes neurodiverse employees. Many will excel in creative roles, and strategic thinking and problem solving.

Leadership can ensure that neurodiverse staff are properly understood given tasks that play to their strengths.

Adair, said: “The jump in tribunal claims shows that employers can’t afford to ignore neurodiversity issues. Employees are increasingly willing to disclose they are neurodivergent and aren’t afraid to request reasonable adjustments if their workplace setup places them at a disadvantage, or challenge discriminatory treatment.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Employers would be advised to stop making assumptions, work to identify the talents of neurotypicals and understand how they can give their organisation a competitive edge as part of a diverse team.”

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more human resources jobs

Adam McCulloch

Adam McCulloch first worked for Personnel Today magazine in the early 1990s as a sub editor. He rejoined Personnel Today as a writer in 2017, covering all aspects of HR but with a special interest in diversity, social mobility and industrial relations. He has ventured beyond the HR realm to work as a freelance writer and production editor in sectors including travel (The Guardian), aviation (Flight International), agriculture (Farmers' Weekly), music (Jazzwise), theatre (The Stage) and social work (Community Care). He is also the author of KentWalksNearLondon. Adam first became interested in industrial relations after witnessing an exchange between Arthur Scargill and National Coal Board chairman Ian McGregor in 1984, while working as a temp in facilities at the NCB, carrying extra chairs into a conference room!

previous post
Who doesn’t use emojis now?
next post
School discriminated against Christian caretaker who tweeted against Pride

You may also like

How to build a culture that empowers neurodivergent...

14 Apr 2025

Are employers ready to recruit more people with...

11 Apr 2025

Apprentice with ADHD was fairly dismissed after lunch...

10 Apr 2025

One in 10 firms taken to tribunal because...

14 Mar 2025

Acas report on neurodiversity: all workplaces can be...

6 Mar 2025

Law firm partners with neurodiversity training specialist

6 Feb 2025

President Trump links DEI policy with fatal air...

31 Jan 2025

Working well together: Supporting neurodivergent employees (online masterclass)

12 Dec 2024

Four in 10 with disabilities or health conditions...

9 Dec 2024

Tapping into neurodiverse talent

20 Nov 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+