Reduced motivation

Case 2: The facts

Following a long period of sick leave caused by depression, administrative officer Miss Springer was dismissed under her employer's absence procedure. A tribunal dismissed her disability discrimination claim, finding that she did not have a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act because her impairment did not have a substantial adverse effect on her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The ruling

The Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld the tribunal's ruling, finding that it had correctly focused on what Springer could not do (or could only do with difficulty) rather than what she could do. It had also been entitled to find that her lack of motivation arising from her condition did not indicate any effect on her ability to carry out her activities.

Springer v Child Support Agency UKEAT/0383/05