Examples of reasonable adjustments people have actually asked for

Reasonable adjustmentsChanges an employer must make under the Equality Act 2010 for a disabled employee, where without them the employee would be at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled colleagues. What coun... have no fixed checklist. What’s reasonable always depends on your role, your disability, and what would actually remove the disadvantage you’re facing. Even so, seeing what other employees have actually asked for, and been granted, is a useful starting point if you’re stuck on what to ask for yourself.

What people have actually asked for

None of the examples below are guaranteed for you specifically. What counts as reasonable also depends on your employer’s size and resources. These are drawn from real requests other employees have made.

• A phased return to work after time off, rather than going straight back to full hours.
• A later start time, or flexibility around your hours generally.
• More frequent or longer breaks during the day.
• Working from home, either some days or all the time.
• Disability-awareness training for your manager or team.
• A quiet workspace, or a private space instead of an open-plan desk.
• Practical changes to your immediate environment, such as better lighting or temperature control.
• Adjusting how your sickness absence is recorded, so disability-related absence isn’t counted the same way as unrelated absence.
• Getting instructions in writing rather than relying on verbal briefings.
• Being allowed to respond to something in writing instead of only in a face-to-face meeting.
• Recording a meeting, where that would help you process or remember what was discussed.
• Time off during the day to attend medical appointments.

Picking the right one to ask for

Not every example here will fit your situation. Pick whichever gets closest to removing the actual disadvantage you’re facing, so your request is specific rather than a general plea for help, and easier for your employer to actually act on.

Our guide on the duty to make reasonable adjustments covers when this duty applies, what happens if your employer refuses, and what to do if you need to push back.