Northern Ireland

Disability discrimination case settled against Home Bargains for £25,000

Ryan Walker settled his disability discrimination case against his former employer Home Bargains
Ryan Walker settled his disability discrimination case against his former employer Home Bargains Ryan Walker settled his disability discrimination case against his former employer Home Bargains

A Co Armagh sales assistant living with cerebral palsy has settled a disability discrimination case against Home Bargains for £25,000.

Ryan Walker told of how he went "from enjoying a job for three years to dreading going into work" as "some supervisors and managers simply did not care about my disability".

Mr Walker began working at the company's Armagh store in July 2017 with his duties including warehouse and stock filling.

He said that during his job interview, he informed Home Bargains of his disability and that he needed to remain active as it helps him manage his condition.

Mr Walker alleged that things started to change when a new supervisor joined in late 2020. He claims this supervisor regularly asked him to cover checkouts and work extra hours.

While he was happy to help on checkouts, he could only do so for short periods of time due to his disability.

He alleged that when he tried to explain to his employer his needs as a disabled person he was told not to “play the disability card".

Mr Walker claimed that due to the failure to provide reasonable adjustments and the impact on him, he contacted the company’s wellbeing team and lodged a formal complaint.

He said it was agreed with his employer, as a reasonable adjustment, that he would only work in the warehouse and fill shelves.

But despite this agreement, he alleges he was again ordered to work on the checkouts.

He wrote to his employer to express his frustration that they had not dealt with issues regarding his reasonable adjustments appropriately.

In the end, he said he felt he had no option but to resign.

Mr Walker said it had been "an awful experience".

"I went from enjoying a job for three years to dreading going into work," he said.

"I was honest with my employer about my disability from the start. I was eager to work.

"I wanted to do a good job, but it was as if some supervisors and managers simply did not care about my disability.

"In the end, I felt I had no option but to resign as I felt it was damaging my health.”

Mr Walker was supported by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland in taking a case against Home Bargains, which was settled without admission of liability.

Mary Kitson from the Equality Commission said: “There is simply no place for disability discrimination in workplaces in Northern Ireland.

"Ryan was keen to work and valued his employment.

"He proactively advised his employer about his disability from the outset and reasonable adjustments were agreed.

“The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 imposes a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments to remove barriers to the recruitment and employment of people with disabilities.

“Employers must operate within our equality laws. They must ensure that they treat all employees who are disabled with dignity and respect in the workplace. 

"No employee with a disability should feel that their needs are not understood or valued by their employer."

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We consider this to be a private matter, and out of respect for the individual’s privacy, we will not be providing any comment or further information on this case".