Section 15 of the Equality Act is starting to flex its muscles, say Spencer Keen & Monika Sobiecki
Initially introduced by the Equality Act to fix the lacuna left by Malcolm v Lewisham Borough Council [2008] IRLR 700, [2008] 4 All ER 525, s 15 of the Equality Act 2010 has enjoyed little judicial scrutiny. Now that the broad test for when a person is treated unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of disability has been reinstated by the Equality Act, s 15 is likely to assume a position, as its predecessor once did, as one of the most important protections that disabled persons enjoy.
The recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Hensman v Ministry of Defence UKEAT/0067/14/DM provides helpful guidance on the correct approach to this cause of action. Of particular interest to practitioners will be the tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal’s (EAT) acceptance that a dismissal because of criminal conduct, could nevertheless be a dismissal “arising in consequence” of disability (a connection that would not have been accepted on an application of the Malcolm test). Also
