Disability awareness: Flexible working for carers

Nick Sheppard considers a recent landmark case involving disability discrimination, and advises that employers could face additional obligations when considering requests for flexible working from employees who are carers.

There are 6 million carers in the UK. Current employment law provides that carers of people with a disability are entitled to limited time off to deal with emergencies affecting their dependants. Carers who are parents of a disabled child have the right to apply for flexible working.