Disabilty discrimation act.

[chris83]

Hi all

i am just wanting some general advice on a work issue sorry if this is abit of a long one just want to explain it in the right way.

I work for a company as a customer service rep that pays out a bonus to its front line staff this bonus is calculated on a number of diffrent factors which inculde a assemsment that is done on our calls. these assements are broken up into 2 part one is soft skill this is essentally the way we talk to our client and our customer service skills. the other is technical now this is more complicated the score is calculated on the advice we give our customers and then our ticket work. ticket work means that everytime i get a call we have to document what we say and the action that resolved our clients issue. i am dislexic as you can proberly tell i have had this issue for my whole life and i try to hide this to most people becuase people just think i am stupid which is far beyond the truth of what i am. The issue that i am having is before a couple of months ago our ticket that we log for each call was not seen by our customers so spelling and grammer were not an issue and you were given training tips on how to improve (did not affect our score which did not affect our bonus) but since then they have changed the ticketing system and now it can be seen by the customers we serve and therefore my work are putting a big enfisis on our spelling and our grammer once i heard about this change i informed my manager that i was dislexic and this may cause an issue. well it has now caused an issue i am getting marked down becuase of my spelling and grammer i have now said to my work that i would like them to try and either make some sort of considration for my condition or give extra training to help me i have no illushion my condition is managnable but there are certian thing that will never change and i will always have my condition . well my question is do they have to help me or can they just say this is your problem you deal with it?

anyways i would appreciate anyones help

[Eloise01]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

Hmm - well the Disability Discrimination Act was repealed in 2010 and no longer exists. It is now the Equality Act that applies.

And the answer is - there isn't a clear cut answer. Taking it a step at a time, and ignoring the fact that you should have informed your employer of a disability earlier....

The employer has changed the way that they do things, and that is a reasonable decision for them to take. You have now disclosed your disability (which I assume you can evidence if asked for it - being unable to spell or use grammar correctly does not in itself mean that you have dyslexia, so you may need to be able to show them evidence of the diagnosis), and asked for a reasonable adjustment. The test then becomes whether what you have asked them for is reasonable - and in the end only an employment tribunal can determine that. This may involve some allowances being made, or additional training - or it may include other things like ensuring a spelling and grammar checker are available on your records. But the answer to your question is no, they do not have to help you - they have to do what is reasonable, and that is not a judgement that anyone other than a tribunal can make. Many things may have to be considered - the size of the employer, the availability or cost of what is needed, whether it will actually make any difference to the situation. The most obvious question back to you is - have they said anything about this matter to you? Have they suggested what they will do?

[chris83]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

thanks for your reply

i have told them what the situation is dont get me wrong here i do not want to cause any waves or cause any trouble all i want is maybe alittle more training or some form of considration.

i can prove my disleixa becuase i was tested at school since informing them i am giving them a chance to put something in place i know they dont have to help me but have to do what is resonble to help me in this situation. My question is could they just turn around and say sorry we are not going to do anything? or worst of all could they turn round and say im sorry but because of this new information we are going to let you go?

Also if i am brought into any meeting at work about this should i record it on my mobile phone for later use and if i should do i have to tell them i am doing it?

[leclerc]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

Is there the ability to actually make reasonable adjustments ie a spellchecker that you would use? That adjustment would have no cost to the company so clearly it would be reasonable.

[Eloise01]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

They haven't said that they won't help? Or that they won't do anything? Shouldn't you give them a chance to do so before you decide on things?

No they don't have to do anything - it depends on what they can reasonably do and neither you nor I can know that yet. You have to give them a chance first! It is unlikely that they would dismiss because of this, and unlikely it would be fair for them to - but again, you are asking me to speculate on something that they haven't done.

I am not going to comment on your last question, save to point out that covert (without permission) recording of people is not lawful. And if you get caught doing it you could be dismissed for it. You must then make your own decision in that regard.

[chris83]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

Ok i was just getting the advice i wont record anything.

As i said i am going to give them more than enough time to decide what to do and then from there i will make my decishion on how to proceed. within the programme we use there is a spell check function but most of the time it does not reconise the word that i am typing so is next to useless for me. there is no grammer check but i can work on grammer it is the spelling that is usally my downfall.

i do appericate the advice i was just wondering if i would have any comeback if i am dismissed.

[Eloise01]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

It is imposible to say what comeback there might be on a situation which hasn't happened. You are confusing the law with clairvoyance! See what happens and then come back if it isn't working out. Don't start setting yourself up for things that haven't happened, or you will just get stressed and that will make things worse!

[chris83]

Re: Disabilty discrimation act.

once again thank you for the advice.

thats me all over i prepare for the worse but i hope for the best.