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Discrimination against able bodied people

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kammalla | 18:39 Wed 15th Apr 2009 | Civil
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Due to the economic situation the warehouse where I work is cutting 1 job, everyone will be "re-interivew" -whatever that means - so there is 8 people for 7 jobs but one person who has been here for nearly 20 yrs has a disability that means he can't walk properly or lift/carry heavy items. This person is telling people he won't be interviewed again and will get people to contact the boss and has been to citizens advise etc. to ensure that he stays.
He was fine when he first started but the job has grown and demands more from you than he can provide as someone has to help him alot of the time. He only does his work and won't help anyone else.
My collegues and I are concerned that when it comes to cutting somebody one of the able-bodied people will be made redundant as the management are scared of potential discrimination lawsuits. but dosen't it work both ways? if he can't do the job properly he should go shouldn't he?
one of my collegues spoke to management months ago and was told to stop bullying him.
he doesn't have a mortgauge and gets benifits for his disability.
Anyone know where we stand legally if he should be kept on? as it is unfair for one of us who can multi-task to go as it will make things even harder as someone will have to help him on top of doing thier work.
(I know this sounds vindictive and I apologise if it causes any offense)
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Hi.
I know where you are coming from. I used to work with a woman who was diabetic and she was a nightmare. When she started the job she knew there was a shift system, but she flatly refused to do it saying it would interfere with her diabetes. We had fairly regular 10 minute breaks but she would spin hers out to 30 mins, saying she needed to eat more because of her condition, etc etc. We ended up having to "carry" her most of the time and felt resentful. She was one of the reasons I left. I didn't mind doing my job, but I objected to doing half of her job as well.
You are on a hiding to nothing with this one as he will play the disability card and scream "discrimination" at every opportunity.
Your question is impossible to answer because one cannot guess what criteria the management of your organisation will select as as being those that will used used to identify for redundancy from those in the redundancy pool.
You are making a huge assumption that 'perceived competency to do the job by fellow work colleagues' will be one of the criteria.

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Discrimination against able bodied people

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