A remote travel consultant in the UK has successfully sued her former employer for disability discrimination after being forced to turn on her camera during video calls, an adjustment she argued exacerbated her anxiety. The employment tribunal found that Holiday Extras, a vacation ancillary service, failed to adequately provide reasonable adjustments for Laura Tait, whose anxiety led to work-induced stress and absences.
Tait, hired in June 2021, informed the company of her anxiety-related absences by April 2022 and later requested more live chat and email shifts rather than telephone or video calls, despite her role requiring customer service interactions. While executives initially stated she could not be scheduled for more chat duties than average due to fairness and workload, they also indicated she would be accommodated where possible.
During a remote training session on August 24, 2023, Tait expressed her anxiety and requested to remain off-camera. According to reports, she was asked to start with the camera on and "see how she went," but was unable to cope and logged off. She was subsequently granted sick leave in October 2023 for work-related stress and anxiety.
Tait filed her discrimination accusation in April 2024. Although an initial grievance was dismissed and an appeal was denied, the employment tribunal later ruled in her favor. Employment Judge Liz Ord stated that the company did not allow the requested adjustment on August 24, 2023, when Tait first indicated she was overwhelmed.
While the company's COO formally agreed to the adjustment on October 4, 2024, the judge determined that the adjustment was reasonable and should have been implemented from August 24, 2023. The tribunal concluded that Tait experienced "substantial disadvantages in the workplace" due to the company's failure to make reasonable adjustments. She was awarded an undetermined amount in compensation, to be decided at a later date.
The case highlights broader issues of work-related stress and burnout. Data suggests that 80% of employees feel their jobs contribute to poor mental health, with nearly 40% having left their positions due to such burdens. The study's author noted that some individuals choose less demanding roles for their well-being, a decision that may appear as a step down externally but prioritizes mental health.