Mental ill health and reasonable workplace adjustment

After almost a year of additional stress for GPs during the Covid-19 pandemic, the risk of mental ill health in the workplace, from depression, anxiety, stress and/or bereavement, has increased.

The Equality Act 2010 was designed to protect people from discrimination who have the “protected characteristics” of disability; age; race; sex; sexual orientation; pregnancy and maternity; gender reassignment; religion or belief; marriage or civil partnership.

People experiencing mental ill-health where it is considered to be “disability” under the Act are included in the protections. This would apply if their mental illness has a “substantial” (more than small or minor), negative “long-term” (more than 12 months) effect on their ability to undertake normal day-to-day activities.

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