Guidance for employees

As an employee, you should:

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and the health and safety of anyone who might be affected by what you are doing;
• Co-operate with your employer on health and safety issues.  This includes listening, following instructions and training, and using any safety equipment that has been provided;
• Inform your employer or manager if you see something that might harm you or someone else.

You do not have to disclose your disability.  However when making this decision, you will want to consider the following:

• If you have a disability, you are protected under the Equality Act 2010.  This makes it unlawful for employers to treat an employee with a disability less favourably than other employees for any reason connected with their disability, unless there is justification for such action.
• Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled workers aren’t disadvantaged when doing their jobs.
• If an employer does not know about your disability, they will not be able to take any necessary action to protect you from harm.

Your employer must manage the workplace risks to the health and safety of all their employees and must include you in any relevant health and safety information and training.

Your employer may need to involve others, for example specialists or your doctor, to understand any effects that your disability may have on workplace health and safety; and how to minimise those risks and make reasonable adjustments to ensure you are not disadvantaged.  Your employer can only approach others if you give your consent.

Reasonable adjustments may also be provided for employees with mental health conditions, including those which have been linked to stress.  Employees and employers should work together to discuss what might be helpful. Find out more about work related stress and mental health.

Gov.uk provides information on Access to Work grants, which can help pay for practical support if you have a disability, health or mental health condition so you can start work or stay in work’.