Many employers are not doing enough to tackle dyslexia, which affects around 2.9 million workers in the UK, according to a TUC report.
Dyslexia in the workplace warned that managers who do not appreciate the link between the disability – which causes difficulties reading words and numbers, and common performance problems – can often judge dyslexic employees unfairly.
It also revealed that many people with dyslexia are unaware of their condition and are likely to be anxious, frustrated and suffer from low self-esteem at work.
The report warned that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work and employers must appreciate the full range of difficulties dyslexic workers encounter, provide relevant training and modify documents or instructions to make them easier to read or understand.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Workers with dyslexia need to know that the law is on their side and that there is support available to them.
“This report equips union reps with the information they need to make sure that bosses are fulfilling their legal duties.
“However, it is not just about trying to catch bosses out. The report will help employers to take any necessary steps to make their workplaces more tolerant and flexible,” he said.
The report highlights the most common areas at work where people with dyslexia encounter problems, which include:
- following written or spoken instructions
- dealing with maps, charts and tables
- writing memos, letters and reports
- giving presentations
- scheduling work and meetings and keeping track of appointments.
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