Am I entitled to time off work to adjust to my disability?

Back

The TUC has a history of developing analysis and research to inform economic and employment-related issues.

Search by topic area

Worker protections in the UK compared to the rest of the OECD

Report: Falling behind on labour rights

The TUC produces a wide range of research and analysis reports

Latest TUC reports

Back

Nothing beats being a union member, but if you are looking for particular guidance on a workplace issue have a look at our workplace guidance.

Go to workplace guidance

Are you a union rep looking for help and advice to support your colleagues at work? Take a look at our wide range of resources.

Go to reps guidance

To effectively challenge sexual harassment, we must challenge the cultures that enable it through practical and proactive action.

Tackling and preventing sexual harassment

Published date

16 Sep 2022

Some unions have negotiated special 'disability leave' for employees. The aim of disability leave is to give time and job security to newly disabled employees. The leave allows you to assess whether you would be able to resume work following adaptations to the premises or to your workstation, by learning new skills or by doing your job in different ways.

Even if there is no negotiated agreement in place, it is possible that this might be a reasonable adjustment in some situations. It all depends on your individual circumstances, including factors such as the size and resources of your employer, the length of the leave you need, the kind of job you do, the nature of your disability and so on. Bear in mind that crucially, an adjustment will only ever be reasonable if you can show that there is a good chance that making it will help you return to or stay in your job, so this should be a key focus of your request. 

It is a good idea to make sure you have the support of your GP or another medical specialist who can explain in writing why this adjustment would help you carry on with your job.

Note: This content is provided as general background information and should not be taken as legal advice or financial advice for your particular situation. Make sure to get individual advice on your case from your union, a source on our free help page or an independent financial advisor before taking any action.

Join a union