Disability Discrimination Act extends its reach

From this month, small workplaces employing fewer than 15 workers - estimated to be as many as 90% of UK workplaces - are no longer exempt from the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Some other types of employment are now also covered by the Act for the first time: the police, fire and prison services, barristers (advocates in Scotland), partners in business partnerships and employees on ships and planes.

This effectively means that all employers, with the exception of the armed forces, have come under the scope of the Act. They must ensure that they do not discriminate against disabled employees or job applicants because of their disability, and may have to consider making reasonable adjustments to the workplace.

Detailed information about the DDA and the changes can be found on the government's www.disability.gov.uk website.