Carers’ Rights Ruling leaves firms exposed to Discrimination Claims
A landmark EU court ruling which backed a UK employee’s right to take time off work to look after her disabled son could leave employers exposed to a rush of discrimination claims, legal experts have warned. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg agreed that Sharon Coleman suffered ‘discrimination by association’ when she was forced to resign from her job after being denied flexible working arrangements to look after her disabled child. Crucially, judges ruled that an EU Directive which outlaws discrimination at work on grounds of disability, is not limited to disabled people themselves but also extends to those caring for them. According to employment law firm Croner Consulting, the ruling could open the doors for a rush of similar associative discrimination claims ... »