An employment tribunal in the UK has awarded £17,154.86 (with £15,000 for injury to feelings) to Nicholas James, an autistic support worker at The Venture children’s centre in Wrexham, in a landmark disability discrimination case.
📌 What happened
- James raised concerns in late 2023 about being unable to work effectively due to loud music playing during open-access sessions.
- Instead of adjustments, his supervisor, Malcolm King, belittled his needs—asking why he couldn’t “be ordinary and perfect like the rest of us,” and later calling them “weirdos.”
⚖️ Tribunal findings
The tribunal concluded King’s remarks were harassment that violated James’s dignity, and the centre failed to make reasonable adjustments, breaching the UK Equality Act. Employers also unlawfully suspended him and made unauthorized wage deductions.
📣 Broader impact
This case underlines the vital importance of accommodating neurodivergent employees, respecting invisible disabilities, and ensuring workplace cultures are inclusive and empathetic. It highlights the legal and moral duty of organizations to respond proactively to accommodation requests, rather than dismissing them as inconvenient or trivial.
